21/01/2026
Retired NASA astronaut Ron Garan says humanity is “living a lie,” and his powerful message about our planet and the way we live is sparking a global conversation about what truly matters 🌍🚀
After spending 178 days in space and looking down at Earth from the International Space Station, Garan experienced what’s known as the “Overview Effect,” a profound cognitive shift where he saw our world as a single, fragile, interconnected home. From 250 miles above, he didn’t see borders, politics, or divisions, just an iridescent biosphere teeming with life, wrapped in a paper-thin atmosphere that is the only shield between us and the darkness of space. That view led him to say we’ve got our priorities backwards: we treat the global economy as the main thing, and our planet’s life-support systems as a side note, when it should clearly be Planet → Society → Economy.
For Garan, the real “lie” is the illusion of separation, the belief that we are divided into “us versus them” instead of crewmates on “Spaceship Earth” with a shared responsibility. His message calls for a major shift in values, where environmental sustainability, human unity, and long-term survival come before short-term profit. It is a significant reminder that meaningful change starts when we recognize that every person, community, and nation is part of one delicate system that needs care, respect, and protection.
Since returning to Earth, Garan has become a vocal advocate for global unity and environmental action, sharing his experiences in books like “The Orbital Perspective.” He wants people to feel what he felt in orbit, to understand that our atmosphere is knife-slim, our home is finite, and our choices today can either damage or safeguard the future. His story continues to inspire important initiatives, positive impact, and a growing movement of people who believe we can rewrite the story of our planet together.
