John Bilsky <<udaleaf>>
writes:

Maybe this is why the experience of hang gliding or paragliding
cannot be easily explained. The "Overview Effect" sounds pretty much exactly how
I feel when I get several thousand feet over launch.

Http://www.mindopenerz.com/strange-things-are-happening-to-astronauts-returning-to-earth/

While going into space would certainly give a bigger picture, for the lucky few
individuals who are astronauts, it doesn't happen too often. For me, hang
gliding produces what is probably a somewhat more subdued effect a lot more
frequently and a helluva lot cheaper.

The URL above states:

The Overview Effect, first described by author Frank White in
1987, is an experience that transforms astronauts’ perspective of the planet and
mankind’s place upon it. Common features of the experience are a feeling of awe
for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and
a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.

‘Overview’ is a short film that explores this phenomenon through interviews with
five astronauts who have experienced the Overview Effect. The film also features
insights from commentators and thinkers on the wider implications and importance
of this understanding for society, and our relationship to the environment.