Over the Blue and Green
Recently, I accompanied a group of teachers exploring the Space Coast in Cape Canaveral, FL. We visited the retired Atlantis, saw artifacts from Challenger and Columbia, and spoke with some astronauts who shared their experiences in space.
I've always been afraid of the vastness of space; the idea of being outside of Earth and seeing its true finite nature terrified me. But the more I heard from these astronauts, the more fascinated I became. They described how their perspective on life changed once they saw our planet from space.
The first astronaut shared that when he looked at Earth, he saw it as a peaceful, glowing blue and green globe. He didn’t see the wars or the hatred I often associate with the inevitable state of our planet. He shared that Earth is inherently peaceful.
The second astronaut shared a story about being an hour ahead of schedule on one mission. She had a little extra time to enjoy space, so she went up to the ship's windows, arms outstretched, and looked over Earth. She described it to us: “I felt like an angel, flying, watching over the planet. I was making sure it was okay from the outside.”
I’ve been imagining myself in her place, wondering what the world would be like if we all saw ourselves as stewards of the place we call home. This piece explores the feeling of watching over our planet, cherishing its beauty, flying over the blue and green.
Recently, I accompanied a group of teachers exploring the Space Coast in Cape Canaveral, FL. We visited the retired Atlantis, saw artifacts from Challenger and Columbia, and spoke with some astronauts who shared their experiences in space.
I've always been afraid of the vastness of space; the idea of being outside of Earth and seeing its true finite nature terrified me. But the more I heard from these astronauts, the more fascinated I became. They described how their perspective on life changed once they saw our planet from space.
The first astronaut shared that when he looked at Earth, he saw it as a peaceful, glowing blue and green globe. He didn’t see the wars or the hatred I often associate with the inevitable state of our planet. He shared that Earth is inherently peaceful.
The second astronaut shared a story about being an hour ahead of schedule on one mission. She had a little extra time to enjoy space, so she went up to the ship's windows, arms outstretched, and looked over Earth. She described it to us: “I felt like an angel, flying, watching over the planet. I was making sure it was okay from the outside.”
I’ve been imagining myself in her place, wondering what the world would be like if we all saw ourselves as stewards of the place we call home. This piece explores the feeling of watching over our planet, cherishing its beauty, flying over the blue and green.
Recently, I accompanied a group of teachers exploring the Space Coast in Cape Canaveral, FL. We visited the retired Atlantis, saw artifacts from Challenger and Columbia, and spoke with some astronauts who shared their experiences in space.
I've always been afraid of the vastness of space; the idea of being outside of Earth and seeing its true finite nature terrified me. But the more I heard from these astronauts, the more fascinated I became. They described how their perspective on life changed once they saw our planet from space.
The first astronaut shared that when he looked at Earth, he saw it as a peaceful, glowing blue and green globe. He didn’t see the wars or the hatred I often associate with the inevitable state of our planet. He shared that Earth is inherently peaceful.
The second astronaut shared a story about being an hour ahead of schedule on one mission. She had a little extra time to enjoy space, so she went up to the ship's windows, arms outstretched, and looked over Earth. She described it to us: “I felt like an angel, flying, watching over the planet. I was making sure it was okay from the outside.”
I’ve been imagining myself in her place, wondering what the world would be like if we all saw ourselves as stewards of the place we call home. This piece explores the feeling of watching over our planet, cherishing its beauty, flying over the blue and green.