Quotes from astronautes after viewing Earth from space - Reuters / solarviews.com

A recent quote from the shuttle commander, Eileen Collins, reminded us of astronauts unique perspective on the fragility of Earth.

Sailom

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2005-08-04T115014Z_01_N0475285_RTRIDST_0_USREPORT-SPACE-SHUTTLE-DC.XML

"Sometimes you can see how there is erosion, and you can see how there is deforestation. It's very widespread in some parts of the world"
"We would like to see, from the astronauts' point of view, people take good care of the Earth and replace the resources that have been used"
"The atmosphere almost looks like an eggshell on an egg, it's so very thin"
"We know that we don't have much air, we need to protect what we have"

http://www.solarviews.com/eng/earthsp.htm

"Before I flew I was already aware of how small and vulnerable our planet is; but only when I saw it from space, in all its ineffable beauty and fragility, did I realize that human kind's most urgent task is to cherish and preserve it for future generations."- Sigmund Jähn, German Democratic Republic

"For those who have seen the Earth from space, and for the hundreds and perhaps thousands more who will, the experience most certainly changes your perspective. The things that we share in our world are far more valuable than those which divide us."- Donald Williams, USA

"My first view - a panorama of brilliant deep blue ocean, shot with shades of green and gray and white - was of atolls and clouds. Close to the window I could see that this Pacific scene in motion was rimmed by the great curved limb of the Earth. It had a thin halo of blue held close, and beyond, black space. I held my breath, but something was missing - I felt strangely unfulfilled. Here was a tremendous visual spectacle, but viewed in silence. There was no grand musical accompaniment; no triumphant, inspired sonata or symphony. Each one of us must write the music of this sphere for ourselves." - Charles Walker, USA

"Looking outward to the blackness of space, sprinkled with the glory of a universe of lights, I saw majesty - but no welcome. Below was a welcoming planet. There, contained in the thin, moving, incredibly fragile shell of the biosphere is everything that is dear to you, all the human drama and comedy. That's where life is; that's were all the good stuff is." - Loren Acton, USA

"The Earth was small, light blue, and so touchingly alone, our home that must be defended like a holy relic. The Earth was absolutely round. I believe I never knew what the word round meant until I saw Earth from space." - Aleksei Leonov, USSR

"The sun truly "comes up like thunder," and it sets just as fast. Each sunrise and sunset lasts only a few seconds. But in that time you see at least eight different bands of color come and go, from a brilliant red to the brightest and deepest blue. And you see sixteen sunrises and sixteen sunsets every day you're in space. No sunrise or sunset is ever the same." - Joseph Allen, USA

"The Earth reminded us of a Christmas tree ornament hanging in the blackness of space. As we got farther and farther away it diminished in size. Finally it shrank to the size of a marble, the most beautiful marble you can imagine. That beautiful, warm, living object looked so fragile, so delicate, that if you touched it with a finger it would crumble and fall apart. Seeing this has to change a man, has to make a man appreciate the creation of God and the love of God." - James Irwin, USA

"Suddenly, from behind the rim of the moon, in long, slow-motion moments of immense majesty, there emerges a sparkling blue and white jewel, a light, delicate sky-blue sphere laced with slowly swirling veils of white, rising gradually like a small pearl in a thick sea of black mystery. It takes more than a moment to fully realize this is Earth . . . home." - Edgar Mitchell, USA

"My view of our planet was a glimpse of divinity." - Edgar Mitchell, USA

"For the first time in my life I saw the horizon as a curved line. It was accentuated by a thin seam of dark blue light - our atmosphere. Obviously this was not the ocean of air I had been told it was so many times in my life. I was terrified by its fragile appearance." - Ulf Merbold, Federal Republic of Germany

"A Chinese tale tells of some men sent to harm a young girl who, upon seeing her beauty, become her protectors rather than her violators. That's how I felt seeing the Earth for the first time. "I could not help but love and cherish her." - Taylor Wang, China/USA