Former NASA astronaut Ron Garan spent 178 days aboard the International Space Station, where he experienced the *“overview effect”*—a powerful shift in perspective felt by astronauts seeing Earth from space. “Hovering high above… he saw no borders, no conflict, no separation—only a vibrant blue orb floating alone in the darkness.”

Garan was deeply moved by the sight of Earth’s atmosphere, which appeared as a *“thin blue line… like the peel of an apple compared to the whole fruit.”* This fragile layer made him realize how little stands between life and the vast vacuum of space.

The experience gave him a renewed commitment to protect the planet. He saw Earth as a shared home, saying, *“we are all passengers on the same spaceship—Earth.”* The challenges we face—climate change, pollution, resource depletion—are global and require unity.

After returning to Earth, Garan dedicated himself to spreading this message through writing, speaking, and environmental activism. He encourages us to shift from division to connection.

His view from space carries a clear message: Earth is resilient but fragile. *“We must care for this fragile blue dot—because it’s the only one we’ve got.”*