Astronauts get to do something the rest of us don't: go to space. They get to see the planet as it really is: one small, but beautiful, blue and green orb that takes up a very small place in the Universe.
Astronauts also come back from their space journeys changed, and they think that we should all have the opportunity to experience what they did.
Although we're starting to see the rise of commercial space exploration and space tourism, we've recently suffered setbacks. Not only did Orbital Sciences' recent supply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) fail, but their rocket exploded shortly after launch. And Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo recently malfunctioned during a test flight, leaving one pilot dead and the other seriously injured.
Space exploration is dangerous, but we cannot be deterred by these setbacks. According to those involved in space missions, including astronauts, we must continue pushing for space exploration, and even those of us who are not astronauts should go to space.
"These trips, whether for profit or not, speak to the very core of humanity, our drive to explore and to always push farther, physically and spiritually," says retired NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao about commercial space travel. "Space flight really is a magical experience: the bright colors of the Earth are mesmerizing from 300 miles up, and the view makes even the most hardened of us reflect what's truly important."
German astronaut Ulrich Walter believes space tourism is a necessity.
"I'm supporting space tourism, because if only some people by profession are flying to space, that's not enough," says Walter. Everyone should do that. In particular, many people telling other people about space is more convincing. Everyone needs to see that."
Walter was realistic, though, and states that presently, space tourism is too expensive for most. But he hopes that once space tourism becomes a valid industry, the prices for travel will go down so that more people have the opportunity to experience what he has.
Others agree and speak about how seeing the Earth from space changes you.
"The Earth changes scale," says entrepreneur Richard Garriott, a self-funded astronaut on the ISS in 2008. "It goes from being infinite in your mind's eye to now... not only finite, but frankly pretty damn small."
Garriott stated that after he returned to Earth, he was more aware of the planet and started cutting down on his waste and installed solar panels.
For now, though, most of us won't ever get to space. However, remember the words of those who have seen the planet for what it really is: a beautiful planet teeming with life and humanity. Perhaps that viewpoint will help us realize what a gift this blue and green rock really is.
[Photo Credit: NASA, Robert Simmon, Reto Stöckli]
