Rejected Religion Spotlight Special Audio Episode - Dr. David W. Kim: The 'Overview Effect' & Astronautical Religion

This is a special audio interview for all listeners! As there was no Spotlight interview earlier this year, I have produced this 'extra' Spotlight for the month of May. I hope you enjoy it. :)

David W. Kim (PhD: University of Sydney) is a Honorary Lecturer at the School of History and the Research School of Social Sciences (RSSS), Australian National University, a Mission Specialist at the ANU Institute for Space, and a Visiting Scholar, Harvard University, USA (2023-2024). He is a Board Member for UNESCO World Heritage Committee, Korea Government, an Associate Professor at Kookmin University, Seoul, and a NASA Judge for the Human Research Program (HRP), Johnson Space Center Huston, USA.

Professor Kim, a Fellow of The Royal Historical Society (UK) and The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britian and Ireland, has conducted a new study on the selection criteria for future Mars astronauts (2033) in conjunction with the Human Research Program (HRP), which remains an open question in the Mars exploration project as part of the Korea Research Foundation's long-term project (2022- 2025) in the field of integration of space science and humanities, as a result of a research visit to Harvard University and NASA Houston, human factors, astrobiology, astrophysics, life sciences, space politics, security, space exploration, and space well-being, and has been recognized as a pioneering study among scholars in the field. 

In this interview, Dr. Kim first discusses the phenomenon known as the ‘Overview Effect’, a profound cognitive shift that astronauts experience when they see Earth from space. It’s described as a state of wonderment and self-transformation that occurs upon witnessing the Earth as a fragile, interconnected whole. Many astronauts report feeling an overwhelming sense of unity, beauty, and a newfound appreciation for humanity and the environment. 

He then moves on to discuss his article, “Mars Space Exploration and Astronautical Religion in Human Research History: Psychological Countermeasures of Long-Term Astronauts” from 2022 in the journal Aerospace. He expands on the challenges and issues that arise when 
considering long-term space travel (of at least 3 years), such as radiation, zero-gravity, isolation, confinement, the distance from Earth, and emergencies that could arise, as well as the potential for an “astronautical religion” to help mitigate or prevent these challenges. 


PROGRAM NOTES

Dr. David W. Kim:
Dr. David W. Kim | LinkedIn

David W. Kim - Australian National University

Asso. Prof. David W. Kim - The Australian National University

SCIE Journal of European Research on Mars Exploration and Human Spaceflight Policy / Professor David William Kim (College of Liberal Arts) - KMU NEWS | Kookmin People - Kookmin University

The 201st Anniversary of the Royal Asiatic Society – Royal Asiatic Society

About Us | RHS

Article from Aerospace Journal: Mars Space Exploration and Astronautical Religion in Human Research History: Psychological Countermeasures of Long-Term Astronauts

Editing: Daniel P. Shea
Music and End Production: Stephanie Shea