Watch this: Overview

A twenty-minute documentary on how seeing the Earth from space changes people

The “Overview Effect” was first described by Frank White in 1987. It’s the way that the perspectives of those who’ve seen Earth from space change on their return.

“Common features of the experience are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment,” explains the short films’s website.

It was put together by The Planetary Collective — a group of British filmmakers working on a larger piece called Continuum, which successfully raised funds on Kickstarter in March 2013. Overview aims both to give a taste of Continuum but also to stand on its own as a description of how astronauts change in space.

Among those interviewed are Edgar Mitchell from Apollo 14, and Ron Garan, Nicole Stott, and Shane Kimbrough from the International Space Station. Frank White, who first named the effect and founded The Overview Institute, is also featured. He explains:

This view of the Earth from space — the whole Earth perspective — is, I think, the true symbol of this age. I believe … there’s going to be a greater and greater interest in communicating this idea because, after all, it’s key to our survival. We have to start acting as one species with one destiny. We are not going to survive if we don’t do that.

Thanks to Heartcloud for alerting us to its existence.

Looking Up is a collection on Medium that offers a home for those obsessed with the world above our heads. It’s curated by @duncangeere. If you enjoyed this article, please click the “recommend” button below, and if you want more, then click the “follow” button to make sure you don’t miss anything we publish in the future.