Astronaut Who Spent 178 Days In Space Shares ‘Big Lie’ He Learned After Seeing Earth
Astronaut Ron Garan, who spent 178 days in space, described the profound “overview effect”—a shift in perspective when viewing Earth from orbit. From the International Space Station, he saw lightning storms, auroras, and the razor-thin atmosphere protecting all life. This led to a sobering realization: humanity prioritizes the economy over the planet’s survival, ignoring urgent crises like climate change and deforestation. Garan argues we must reorder our priorities—planet first, then society and economy—to ensure a sustainable future.
Other astronauts, like Apollo 11’s Michael Collins and Apollo 14’s Edgar Mitchell, shared similar revelations about Earth’s fragility and interconnectedness. Garan believes true peace can only come when we recognize our shared dependence on the planet. His experience highlights the need for a global mindset shift—one that values ecological survival over short-term economic gains. Perhaps if more people saw Earth from space, we’d act differently.
