Seeing our planet from space is a rare treat — fewer than 540 people have ever left the Earth.
Seven astronauts who've blasted off from our planet with NASA came together this week for the premiere of the National Geographic series "One Strange Rock." The show, produced by Darren Aronofsky, takes an up-close look of life on Earth from a range of perspectives, juxtaposing macro views of the planet from space with micro shots of some of the tiniest oxygen-producing organisms, which are four times thinner than a human hair.
The program aims to show off "the beautiful clockwork" of the Earth, Aronofsky said, adding that "it's much more complicated than anything a human could conceive of."
The astronauts featured in the series said that leaving the Earth changed their view of our world in remarkable ways. Some obtained a different kind of understanding of the science they were taught as kids, while others gained an appreciation for the fact that we don't have to recycle our urine to make coffee here.
The seven astronauts sat down to chat with us about what going to space is really like. Here's what they had to say.
Astronauts have a wide variety of reactions to living in space. Some said it made them feel small and insignificant, while others said it made them feel like a god.
But one common theme emerged: Being in space gives astronauts a chance to connect to their home in a whole new way.
"It got rid of that feeling of insignificance," Mae Jemison, who went to space in 1992, said of the experience. "I was as much a part of this universe as any speck of stardust. I had as much right to be here."
Jerry Linenger said that when he was looking down at the Earth, he sometimes felt like a cosmic creator. "I am like God!" he said.
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