--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the main engines cut off, I felt I…" description: "\"“When the main engines cut off, I felt I was no longer chasing space. I had arrived. I had made it to that spacious habitation, the phrase that came to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/leland-melvin-39839_first-time_when-the-main-engines-cut-off-i-felt-i-w_483895.jpg" --- # When the main engines cut off, I felt I was no longer… ![“When the main engines cut off, I felt I was no longer chasing space. I had arrived. I had made it to that spacious habitation, the phrase that came to mind when I first looked down from space and saw our home, the Earth. A reporter asked me after the Atlantis mission what was it like to be up…” quote by Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/leland-melvin-39839_first-time_when-the-main-engines-cut-off-i-felt-i-w_483895.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/leland-melvin-39839_first-time_when-the-main-engines-cut-off-i-felt-i-w_483895.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/leland-melvin-39839_first-time_when-the-main-engines-cut-off-i-felt-i-w_483895.jpg) > ““When the main engines cut off, I felt I was no longer chasing space. I had arrived. I had made it to that spacious habitation, the phrase that came to mind when I first looked down from space and saw our home, the Earth. A reporter asked me after the Atlantis mission what was it like to be up there. I initially spoke about floating and seeing things that weren’t attached to anything in the shuttle floating around us. The talk quickly turned to that magnificent view of Earth. I saw the planet for the first time without borders. I thought about all the places on Earth where there’s unrest and war, and here we were flying above all that, working together as one team to help advance our civilization. That”” [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The astronaut describes the profound shift from chasing space to feeling at home on Earth, recognizing its unity beyond borders and conflict. **In simple terms:** Seeing Earth from space reveals humanity’s shared home and the futility of division. Key Takeaway Embrace a global perspective and cooperation. Themes unity perspective humanity space exploration Mood awe inspired reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team building - peace advocacy - environmental education - space policy discussions Key Concepts cosmic perspective collective identity humility Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing Earth from space alter your view of conflict? - What actions can foster global unity? A Different Perspective The feeling may be personal and not translate into concrete action without systemic change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atlantis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atlantis/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Working together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-together/) ## Related quotes > [The view of earth is spectacular from space. Most people imagine that when astronauts look out the window of the shuttle they see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/the-view-of-earth-is-spectacular-from-space-most-people-imagine-that/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [The view of earth is absolutely spectacular, and the feeling of looking back and seeing your planet as a planet is just an amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/the-view-of-earth-is-absolutely-spectacular-and-the-feeling-of/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [The view of Earth is spectacular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/the-view-of-earth-is-spectacular/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [Having the opportunity to look out this wonderful 360-degree-view, down at the Earth - and at the rest of the universe - is pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/having-the-opportunity-to-look-out-this-wonderful-360-degree-view/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [I flew helicopters, which actually is the second best view of the earth. The first best view is, I think, a little bit higher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunita-williams/i-flew-helicopters-which-actually-is-the-second-best-view-of-the/) [Sunita Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunita-williams/) > [“Sally has a smile I would accept as my last view on earth...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/sally-has-a-smile-i-would-accept-as-my-last-view-on-earth/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [I would love to go to space, take a view of the Earth, see the stars without the mask or the atmosphere. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/i-would-love-to-go-to-space-take-a-view-of-the-earth-see-the-stars/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Fear, separation, hate and anger come from the wrong view that you and the Earth are two separate entities, the Earth is only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-separation-hate-and-anger-come-from-the-wrong-view-that-you-and-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being outside during the space walk, the view of the Earth is just spectacular, and getting a chance to do that is just unbelievable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-massimino/being-outside-during-the-space-walk-the-view-of-the-earth-is-just/) [Michael J. Massimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-massimino/) > [The first view of the Earth is magical. It is a very overpowering realization that the Earth is so small. It affected me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalpana-chawla/the-first-view-of-the-earth-is-magical-it-is-a-very-overpowering/) [Kalpana Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalpana-chawla/) > [The view of the Earth from the Moon fascinated me -- a small disk, 240,000 miles away. . . . Raging nationalistic interests, famines,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-borman/the-view-of-the-earth-from-the-moon-fascinated-me-a-small-disk-240/) [Frank Borman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-borman/) > [During launch, the outside of the rocket is covered in a protective fairing, so we couldn't see outside, but as soon as that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-sharman/during-launch-the-outside-of-the-rocket-is-covered-in-a-protective/) [Helen Sharman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-sharman/) > [ \[The Moon\] was a sobering sight, but it didn't have the impact on me, at least, as the view of the Earth did. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-borman/the-moon-was-a-sobering-sight-but-it-didn-t-have-the-impact-on-me-at/) [Frank Borman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-borman/) > [National boundaries are not evident when we view the Earth from space. Fanatical ethnic or religious or national chauvinisms are a little difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/national-boundaries-are-not-evident-when-we-view-the-earth-from-space/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Sally has a smile I would accept as my last view of earth, but it has a certain distance about it, it is under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/sally-has-a-smile-i-would-accept-as-my-last-view-of-earth-but-it-has/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) ## More by Leland Melvin > [“When you look at the Earth from the vantage point of space, our planet looks like a little blue marble. Seeing our world from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/when-you-look-at-the-earth-from-the-vantage-point-of-space-our-planet/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [“My experiences in the Astronaut Corps had taught me that you never know what will happen from day to day. It’s best to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/my-experiences-in-the-astronaut-corps-had-taught-me-that-you-never/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [“As a scientist, I know that predicting outcomes is based as much on probability as on cause and effect. It isn’t always possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/as-a-scientist-i-know-that-predicting-outcomes-is-based-as-much-on/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [“To walk on the beach was the most incredible thing. When you look at the horizon it helps regauge your gyros and your inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/to-walk-on-the-beach-was-the-most-incredible-thing-when-you-look-at/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [“No matter what happens in our lives, we have to keep moving forward,” I told them. “We have to keep doing our best, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/no-matter-what-happens-in-our-lives-we-have-to-keep-moving-forward-i/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [“Seeing the world without geographic boundaries really puts things in perspective and makes one wonder why there is so much division, hatred, and malice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/seeing-the-world-without-geographic-boundaries-really-puts-things-in/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [“As astronauts we’re trained not to be alarmed by things. We’re trained to ask, “How will I fix this? How will I do all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/as-astronauts-we-re-trained-not-to-be-alarmed-by-things-we-re-trained/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [“Consider that NASA invests tens of millions of dollars to train a single astronaut. And these days, until we have an alternative, the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/consider-that-nasa-invests-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-to-train-a/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [“We have setbacks and we have comebacks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/we-have-setbacks-and-we-have-comebacks/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [“A brilliant black thinker, he grew up in South Carolina, where someone called the police when young Ron tried to check out a science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/a-brilliant-black-thinker-he-grew-up-in-south-carolina-where-someone/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) [Explore all 11 Leland Melvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) ## More Atlantis quotes > [When I got 'Stargate: Atlantis,' I said, 'Man, I'd love to be on HBO.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/when-i-got-stargate-atlantis-i-said-man-i-d-love-to-be-on-hbo/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [I want to do character driven epic storylines with Throne of Atlantis kicking off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/i-want-to-do-character-driven-epic-storylines-with-throne-of-atlantis/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [“Atlantis sinks. Serves it right. Red hates the place. For one thing, there are so many Atlantises, always sinking, in so many strands: an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amal-el-mohtar/atlantis-sinks-serves-it-right-red-hates-the-place-for-one-thing/) [Amal El-Mohtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amal-el-mohtar/) > [Rae Chorze-Fwaz has preserved and passed on their secret meditation techniques in oral tradition from the time of Atlantis until he present day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/rae-chorze-fwaz-has-preserved-and-passed-on-their-secret-meditation/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I had an amazing time on 'Stargate: Atlantis', and a really great run on that show, which was shot in my hometown. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel-staite/i-had-an-amazing-time-on-stargate-atlantis-and-a-really-great-run-on/) [Jewel Staite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel-staite/) > [To the great pharaohs it mattered a great deal to bury their treasures in the pyramids, which they thought they would bring to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/to-the-great-pharaohs-it-mattered-a-great-deal-to-bury-their/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The only group of Atlanteans that was truly successful in transplanting their knowledge to a new location was the group that landed in what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-only-group-of-atlanteans-that-was-truly-successful-in/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Atlantean medicine was evolved to heal, since healing is oneness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/atlantean-medicine-was-evolved-to-heal-since-healing-is-oneness/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [A number of people who are interested in computers in this lifetime programmed computers in Atlantis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-number-of-people-who-are-interested-in-computers-in-this-lifetime/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“I'm not sure what he's saying , but by the way he's checking you out, it looks like you're gonna need a restraining order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-ledwith/i-m-not-sure-what-he-s-saying-but-by-the-way-he-s-checking-you-out-it/) Sharon Ledwith > [Said the condor to the preying mantis, we're gonna lose this place just like we lost Atlantis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/said-the-condor-to-the-preying-mantis-we-re-gonna-lose-this-place/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Have any of you taken a look out at Greece in the last, say, hour or so? (Hermes) What? Are they reacting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/have-any-of-you-taken-a-look-out-at-greece-in-the-last-say-hour-or-so/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [In Atlantis, children who were spiritually evolved from meditative practices in their previous lives were brought to the Mystery School for training by older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-atlantis-children-who-were-spiritually-evolved-from-meditative/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The people to become enlightened in Atlantis lit the "flame of enlightenment" on earth for the first time. The members of the various mystery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-people-to-become-enlightened-in-atlantis-lit-the-flame-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The idea of introducing the Seven Seas is absolutely to challenge Aquaman on an emotional and personal level. His responsibility is unification of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/the-idea-of-introducing-the-seven-seas-is-absolutely-to-challenge/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) [Browse all 127 Atlantis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atlantis/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When the main engines cut off, I felt I was no longer chasing space. I had arrived. I had made it to that spacious habitation, the phrase that came to mind when I first looked down from space and saw our home, the Earth. 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