Let's Send Donald Trump to Space

The BBC asked Space journalist Richard Hollingham what world-changing idea he would like to see implemented. He said we should send politicians to space. Richard Hollingham’s reasoning for this was very simple; he said: “Not all astronauts are that interesting, they are brilliant scientists, they are brilliant engineers, they are brilliant pilots, but they are not necessarily that good at articulating what it is like being in space.” Just over 500 people have had their perspectives changed in this way, the first of which was Yuri Gagarin, the first man sent to Space. American Astronaut Ron Garan calls this the Orbital Perspective. However, even when astronauts who are very good at explaining the Orbital Perspective, like Ron Garan and Chris Hadfield, try, it is still difficult to understand.

This could be for many reasons; most individuals have been limited to their personal perspective. A perspective that is heavily influenced by the world and people that surround them. This personal perspective tends to be influenced in both an extremely positive way and in a remarkably negative way, leaving your average person to have a small and restricted view of the world that they inhabit. This is the reason that makes it difficult to change your view to an Orbital Perspective and to truly imagine yourself looking down at the entire planet.

So what is the Orbital Perspective and what does it change? Many Astronauts say this Orbital Perspective has changed their way of looking at the Earth. They talk about the idea of seeing the world without artificial borders, and with no conflict. Astronauts also speak about the Earth changing their mind from having to seem limitless to being very finite. They have also said that it can make you think of Earth as one living breathing organism. But what use is it if only a few people are given the chance to understand the Orbital Perspective?

Unfortunately, we can’t send everyone space to have their perspective changed. So Richard Hollingham we send the people can make the difference by having their perspective charged.  He thinks we should send world leaders like Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin along with leaders in China, India, Israel and Europe up into space. The hope would be that they will look down at earth and see it for what it is, one planet populated by one group or people. Maybe if world leaders were given the opportunity to make this perspective change you could change the world in a way that had a net benefit for everyone.