“It was one of the most intense feelings of grief that I have ever experienced,” Mr Shatner wrote about it in his book.
Star Trek actor William Shatner recently shared his story about his trip into space on a Blue Origin flight. He described how it felt like “a funeral” for Earth.
The 91 year-old became the oldest person ever to be launched to the edge of space aboard a Blue Origin rocket, on October 13, 2021. A year later, the actor from Hollywood has written his memoir, Boldly Gone: Reflections on a Live of Awe and Wonder.
It was the strongest feeling of grief I have ever felt. In his book, Mr Shatner said that the stark contrast between the coldness of space and Earth’s warm nurturing filled him with overwhelming sadness. An excerpt was published in last Wednesday.
Further, Shatner indicated that humans face daily destruction of Earth as well as the imminent doom of climate changes. However, seeing Earth from outer space raised concerns over the “interference by mankind”.
“Everyday we are faced with the possibility of further destruction of Earth. The extinction of animal and flora species, as well as fauna, is imminent. These things took five billions of years to develop, and we suddenly won’t be able to see them again thanks the interference of humanity. It was a terrifying experience. It was supposed to have been a celebration. Instead, it felt like an awful funeral.” he said.
The actor added that he was not alone in feeling this sensation, as astronauts often refer to the “Overview Effect”. Mr Shatner explained that “essentially, when someone travels in space and views Earth’s fragility from orbit, an instinctive sense of its fragility takes hold.”
He said that it could alter our perception of the planet, as well as other things, such countries, ethnicities, religions, and can trigger a quick re-evaluation, which can lead to a shift in our focus to the amazing things we have in common, rather than what makes us different.
Three other passengers and Mr Shatner flew together to the edge of space. From launch to landing, the entire experience lasted approximately 10 minutes. The actor, who landed in Texas’s remote desert, claimed that his experience in outer space was unlike anything else he had seen.
