On 20th July 1969 the world watched as humans first set foot on the Moon. More than half a century on, the view of Earth from space has given rise to a profound idea: the Overview Effect — the shift in perspective that astronauts experience when they see our planet from orbit.

From 250 miles above, the Earth appears as a fragile, glowing sphere suspended in the darkness of space. Borders vanish, noise falls silent, and what remains is a single, shared home.

But what happens when astronauts return to Earth and can never see the world in quite the same way again?

Join Ranger Ajay Tegala as he explores the Overview Effect with artist Luke Jerram and astronaut Tim Peake, and discover how this cosmic perspective might change the way we care for the places closest to us.

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Host: Ajay Tegala

Producer: Jesse Edbrooke

Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez

Contributors: Luke Jerram, Tim Peake

Find out more about Luke Jerram’s artwork: https://www.lukejerram.com

Discover Tim Peake’s story: https://www.esa.int/peake

Gaia at Inside Out Dorset, 2021. Photo (c) Roy Riley

A big thanks to Jonathan Goldsmith, composer student at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, for their collaboration to this episode with the track "Flying Nymphaea". 

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If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at [email protected]