NASA's Curious Universe Earth Series: How NASA Sees Our Blue Marble
Apr 15, 2025
Karen St. Germain, Director of NASA’s Earth Science Division, shares her expertise on how NASA observes our planet. She discusses the profound impact of the iconic 'Earthrise' photograph and the transformative 'overview effect' experienced by astronauts. Innovations like the SWAT and PACE missions are highlighted for their role in oceanography and environmental conservation. St. Germain explores how scientific data is turning into practical solutions for climate challenges, including sustainable farming practices. Lastly, she introduces a virtual farming project that uses NASA data to help farmers simulate their crop management.
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Apollo 8's Earthrise Moment
- Apollo 8 astronauts captured the iconic Earthrise photo from lunar orbit in 1968.
- Bill Anders said the mission's most important discovery was realizing the Earth is a fragile blue marble.
The Overview Effect Explained
- The overview effect is the profound shift in perspective astronauts feel seeing Earth from space.
- NASA's Earth view recreates this awe, revealing Earth's beauty and fragility to all.
Hurricane Gilbert's Impact
- Karen St. Germain flew through Hurricane Gilbert as a scientist, witnessing its destructive power firsthand.
- This experience motivated her commitment to ensure people are better warned and prepared for storms.