--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I was prepared for space, and…" description: "\"I thought I was prepared for space, and it still absolutely defied every expectation and dream. It is an incredible thing to put yourself on a rocket a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/kathleen-rubins-17003_amazing_i-thought-i-was-prepared-for-space-and-i_3185415.jpg" --- # I thought I was prepared for space, and it still… ![“I thought I was prepared for space, and it still absolutely defied every expectation and dream. It is an incredible thing to put yourself on a rocket and launch off the planet. It is an amazing thing to see the planet from space. This blue sphere is almost indescribably beautiful.” quote by Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/kathleen-rubins-17003_amazing_i-thought-i-was-prepared-for-space-and-i_3185415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/kathleen-rubins-17003_amazing_i-thought-i-was-prepared-for-space-and-i_3185415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/kathleen-rubins-17003_amazing_i-thought-i-was-prepared-for-space-and-i_3185415.jpg) > “I thought I was prepared for space, and it still absolutely defied every expectation and dream. It is an incredible thing to put yourself on a rocket and launch off the planet. It is an amazing thing to see the planet from space. This blue sphere is almost indescribably beautiful.” [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Space travel exceeds expectations, revealing profound beauty and humility when seeing Earth from orbit. **In simple terms:** Space reveals unexpected beauty and humility. Key Takeaway Embrace awe and humility in new experiences. Themes exploration humility beauty Mood awe inspired reflective Type inspirational descriptive When to use this quote - space missions - educational outreach - personal growth - environmental advocacy Key Concepts cosmic perspective human insignificance wonder Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing Earth from space change your values? - What responsibilities arise from this perspective? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize space, overlooking risks and costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [It changes your perspective to be able to look out the window and see the planet. One of the thoughts that I had when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/it-changes-your-perspective-to-be-able-to-look-out-the-window-and-see/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [I've nothing against eye make-up and lipstick. But the fact is that we’re actually living on a planet in space. For me that’s an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/i-ve-nothing-against-eye-make-up-and-lipstick-but-the-fact-is-that-we/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [We live on a planet that is amazing, beautiful, and full of wonder but not protected from powerful destructive forces of nature. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hamilton/we-live-on-a-planet-that-is-amazing-beautiful-and-full-of-wonder-but/) [Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hamilton/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/suddenly-from-behind-the-rim-of-the-moon-in-long-slow-motion-moments/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [“The Blue Sphere Exercise Seat yourself comfortably, and relax. Try not to think about anything. 1. Feel how good it is to be alive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-blue-sphere-exercise-seat-yourself-comfortably-and-relax-try-not/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Unbeknownst to most of its dormant and otherwise distracted inhabitants, one beautiful tiny blue sphere, spinning through the dark cloak of galactic space, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cori/unbeknownst-to-most-of-its-dormant-and-otherwise-distracted/) [Patricia Cori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cori/) > [Walking in space is absolutely the most exhilarating part of a mission. The view is just incredible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-whitson/walking-in-space-is-absolutely-the-most-exhilarating-part-of-a/) [Peggy Whitson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-whitson/) > [Space is absolutely a 3-D world in comparison to our 2-D world on Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunita-williams/space-is-absolutely-a-3-d-world-in-comparison-to-our-2-d-world-on/) [Sunita Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunita-williams/) > [Thus passing through the infinite varieties of space we reach the Divine space which is absolutely free from all dimensions and constitutes the meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-iqbal/thus-passing-through-the-infinite-varieties-of-space-we-reach-the/) [Muhammad Iqbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-iqbal/) > [It is contrary to reasoning to say that there is a vacuum or space in which there is absolutely nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/it-is-contrary-to-reasoning-to-say-that-there-is-a-vacuum-or-space-in/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [We are at a point in history where a proper attention to space, and especially near space, may be absolutely crucial in bringing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-are-at-a-point-in-history-where-a-proper-attention-to-space-and/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Memory revises me. Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [If you're white and you're wrong, then you're wrong; if you're black and you're wrong, you're wrong. People are people. Black, blue, pink, green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/if-you-re-white-and-you-re-wrong-then-you-re-wrong-if-you-re-black/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [When I haven't any blue I use red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/when-i-haven-t-any-blue-i-use-red/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) ## More by Kathleen Rubins > [There's a world of insights to be gained into human health and disease by understanding how gravity and space radiation influence biology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/there-s-a-world-of-insights-to-be-gained-into-human-health-and/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [I kind of watch anything on the Syfy channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/i-kind-of-watch-anything-on-the-syfy-channel/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [When I was 16, my dad took me to a DNA conference at the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco, California, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/when-i-was-16-my-dad-took-me-to-a-dna-conference-at-the-exploratorium/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [NASA trains you to assess emergency situations and react in a way to keep yourself and everyone else safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/nasa-trains-you-to-assess-emergency-situations-and-react-in-a-way-to/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [We have to engineer devices that are going to work in space stations. Those same things are going to work in the most remote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/we-have-to-engineer-devices-that-are-going-to-work-in-space-stations/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [When you go to vacuum in the airlock and you take the hose off the front of your space suit, there's a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/when-you-go-to-vacuum-in-the-airlock-and-you-take-the-hose-off-the/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [I decided to do graduate studies in virology at Stanford University in California because it had a hospital, which made working on clinical applications…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/i-decided-to-do-graduate-studies-in-virology-at-stanford-university/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [As an undergraduate majoring in biology at the University of California, San Diego, I worked on infectious diseases at the nearby Salk Institute for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/as-an-undergraduate-majoring-in-biology-at-the-university-of/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [When I was in grad school, I wanted to be in academia forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/when-i-was-in-grad-school-i-wanted-to-be-in-academia-forever/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [You absolutely know you're in space when you're doing a spacewalk. That was pretty interesting because you can feel vacuum. It actually changes your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/you-absolutely-know-you-re-in-space-when-you-re-doing-a-spacewalk/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [For long-duration exploration missions, NASA is looking for folks with a lot of operational, hands-on experience, people who have been in field-type situations such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/for-long-duration-exploration-missions-nasa-is-looking-for-folks-with/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [I was the one with a subscription to 'Sky and Telescope' magazine as a kid while my friends were reading 'Tiger Beat.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/i-was-the-one-with-a-subscription-to-sky-and-telescope-magazine-as-a/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [Joining NASA was very exciting, but it was the hardest decision I have had to make in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/joining-nasa-was-very-exciting-but-it-was-the-hardest-decision-i-have/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [I've always been fascinated with science and exploring our world, from microbes to the solar system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-with-science-and-exploring-our-world-from/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [If you find something that you're excited about and you're interested in, my advice to young women and young men would be do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/if-you-find-something-that-you-re-excited-about-and-you-re-interested/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) [Explore all 38 Kathleen Rubins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) ## More Amazing quotes > [My favorite galaxy of all is called the Sombrero, NGC 4594. It's an amazing galaxy that is really two galaxies in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-faber/my-favorite-galaxy-of-all-is-called-the-sombrero-ngc-4594-it-s-an/) [Sandra Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-faber/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [Yoga's an amazing release.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-keena/yoga-s-an-amazing-release/) [Monica Keena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-keena/) > [I struggled and I did theater for 10 years, for 15 years, I tried to get little parts here and there in TV shows.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-tupper/i-struggled-and-i-did-theater-for-10-years-for-15-years-i-tried-to/) [James Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-tupper/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Literally every person in my life is so amazing. I even don't understand how I am so blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/literally-every-person-in-my-life-is-so-amazing-i-even-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I got to travel a lot and meet amazing people. That was a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavish-aggarwal/i-got-to-travel-a-lot-and-meet-amazing-people-that-was-a-lot-of-fun/) [Bhavish Aggarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavish-aggarwal/) > [Under Thatcher, who ruled us with an iron rod, great art was made. Amazing designers and musicians. Acid house was born. Very colourful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/under-thatcher-who-ruled-us-with-an-iron-rod-great-art-was-made/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [A stadium tour would be amazing - that's definitely one of my goals. Just to keep putting out real, honest music that people can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/a-stadium-tour-would-be-amazing-that-s-definitely-one-of-my-goals/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [I definitely want to put together an amazing debut album with some really dreamy collaborations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-runway/i-definitely-want-to-put-together-an-amazing-debut-album-with-some/) [Bree Runway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-runway/) > [So crazy to think that we have only known each other 2 years. its been so amazing and we have got to do so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/so-crazy-to-think-that-we-have-only-known-each-other-2-years-its-been/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [I saw Frank Frazetta's art, and it seared on my memory. I love his paintings. They're so amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-saw-frank-frazetta-s-art-and-it-seared-on-my-memory-i-love-his/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [When you're true to who you are, amazing things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/when-you-re-true-to-who-you-are-amazing-things-happen/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [I want to continue to produce film, television, and theater, and to make the most amazing music that I've made in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-want-to-continue-to-produce-film-television-and-theater-and-to-make/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) [Browse all 6,502 Amazing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought I was prepared for space, and it still absolutely defied every expectation and dream. It is an incredible thing to put yourself on a rocket and launch off the planet. It is an amazing thing to see the planet from space. This blue sphere is almost indescribably beautiful.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kathleen Rubins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/i-thought-i-was-prepared-for-space-and-it-still-absolutely-defied/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amazing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/i-thought-i-was-prepared-for-space-and-it-still-absolutely-defied/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/kathleen-rubins-17003_amazing_i-thought-i-was-prepared-for-space-and-i_3185415.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/kathleen-rubins-17003_amazing_i-thought-i-was-prepared-for-space-and-i_3185415.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fb/kathleen-rubins-17003_amazing_i-thought-i-was-prepared-for-space-and-i_3185415.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought I was prepared for space, and it still absolutely defied every expectation and dream. It is an…” — Kathleen Rubins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kathleen Rubins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I thought I was prepared for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/i-thought-i-was-prepared-for-space-and-it-still-absolutely-defied/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/i-thought-i-was-prepared-for-space-and-it-still-absolutely-defied/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```