Science & Tech · Space · 5 hrs ago
Crew-12 astronauts say seeing Earth from space highlights its fragility
Crew-12 astronauts said seeing Earth from space showed how fragile it is.
The four-person mission included NASA commander Jessica Meir and Roscosmos astronaut Andrey Fedyaev, who spent nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station.
Meir said Earth’s thin atmosphere is all that supports life, and urged people to protect it.
The view from orbit can change how astronauts see the planet and humanity; this shift in perspective is known as the overview effect.
Meir said Earth’s borders look artificial from space, while Fedyaev said the crew’s shared responsibility offers a model for people on Earth.
Their comments came at a press conference after the mission returned on Oct.
8.
The crew completed science and maintenance work on the station, but the astronauts’ message was that caring for Earth is a shared responsibility.
Crew-12 astronauts said seeing Earth from space underscored the planet’s beauty and fragility.
Commander Jessica Meir said Earth’s thin atmosphere supports life and needs protection.
Meir said the view made clear that people are connected and national borders are artificial.
Mission specialist Andrey Fedyaev compared the crew’s cooperation to how people should care for Earth.
The four astronauts spent nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station before returning to Earth on Oct. 8.
- Who
- Crew-12 astronauts Jessica Meir, Andrey Fedyaev, Jack Hathaway and Sophie Adenot.
- What
- The astronauts said their view of Earth from space highlighted its fragility and the need to protect it.
- When
- They discussed the experience at a press conference on Oct. 15, after returning to Earth on Oct. 8.
- Where
- The astronauts made their observations from the International Space Station.
- Why
- They said the view showed that Earth is precious, its life depends on a thin atmosphere, and people are connected.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Crew-12 launched toward the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The Crew Dragon capsule Freedom arrived at the station.
The crew returned to Earth after spending nearly eight months aboard the station.
Meir and Fedyaev discussed their views of Earth and life in space at a press conference.
- Crew-12 crew
- Jessica Meir, Andrey Fedyaev, Jack Hathaway and Sophie Adenot
- Launch
- Feb. 13, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9
- Space station arrival
- Feb. 14
- Return to Earth
- Oct. 8, after nearly eight months in orbit
- Press conference
- Oct. 15
What people are saying
You see this very thin, tenuous band of an atmosphere, and you know that that is all that is supporting life, and we really need to do our best to protect it
You realize that we really are one human when you are in space
We don't have borders. We are all friendly. We're just one crew, and the safety of the crew, the safety of the station, depends on the actions of the entire crew