Scenario: From Such Great Heights

From Such Great Heights • Near-future neutral scenario

From Such Great Heights

Astronauts who viewed Earth from its orbit described it as a transformative experience: The unique vantage point elicited a more global sense of consciousness, an appreciation and empathy for humankind, and a drive to take action to improve the state of the world.

This life-changing cognitive shift was called the “Overview Effect.”

Artists and philosophers became captivated by the idea, and the term gained traction during the 2010s. Upon return from his trip to space in 2021, billionaire Jeff Bezos talked about the fragility of Earth and a renewed desire to protect it. Other billionaires soon raced to sponsor their own flights to low-Earth orbit in pursuit of the Overview Effect, deluding themselves that they were now one with the planet and humankind—though their actions actually made them even more disconnected from the rest of humanity.

Space tourism startup Crius Space Technologies launched low-earth orbit trips for anyone wanting to experience the Overview Effect, but only the wealthy could afford the hefty price tag. New startups emerged to provide simulated experiences to the masses who remain earthbound, through the use of high fidelity optics and fully immersive technology. But the manufactured experience was also expensive and mostly reserved for the affluent.

While the Overview Effect kick-started a collective cognitive shift to address the existential threats facing man and the planet, it also created a castelike division in society between those who experienced the Overview Effect firsthand, those who experienced it virtually, and those who had not experienced it at all.