--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Looking down at the Earth, you started to…" description: "\"Looking down at the Earth, you started to pick up a sense of speed much more than I had noticed on orbit.\" — Robert Crippen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/robert-crippen-29237_earth_looking-down-at-the-earth-you-started-to_1927211.jpg" --- # Looking down at the Earth, you started to pick up a sense… ![“Looking down at the Earth, you started to pick up a sense of speed much more than I had noticed on orbit.” quote by Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/robert-crippen-29237_earth_looking-down-at-the-earth-you-started-to_1927211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/robert-crippen-29237_earth_looking-down-at-the-earth-you-started-to_1927211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/robert-crippen-29237_earth_looking-down-at-the-earth-you-started-to_1927211.jpg) > “Looking down at the Earth, you started to pick up a sense of speed much more than I had noticed on orbit.” [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observing Earth from orbit reveals a heightened sense of velocity that surpasses ground‑based perception. **In simple terms:** Space view makes speed feel greater than on Earth. Key Takeaway Notice how perspective changes perception of motion. Themes space perception velocity Mood wonder awe Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - Astronaut training - space tourism - educational outreach Key Concepts Physics human experience Questions to Reflect On - How does altitude alter your sense of speed? - What other senses change in space? A Different Perspective Perspective may be limited by equipment or visual cues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Orbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orbit/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) ## Related quotes > [We were on the dark side of the Earth when we started to see outside the window this soft pink glow, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/we-were-on-the-dark-side-of-the-earth-when-we-started-to-see-outside/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [“I didn’t want to go back to sleep. I wanted to talk to him until the earth started revolving around the moon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-didn-t-want-to-go-back-to-sleep-i-wanted-to-talk-to-him-until-the/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [You're going very fast when you're on orbit, going around the world once every hour and a half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/you-re-going-very-fast-when-you-re-on-orbit-going-around-the-world/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [We were only on orbit a little over two days, so we had no adverse effects from being weightless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/we-were-only-on-orbit-a-little-over-two-days-so-we-had-no-adverse/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [We're looking at Earth science, observing our planet. Also space science, looking at the ozone in the atmosphere around our Earth. Also looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/we-re-looking-at-earth-science-observing-our-planet-also-space/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [But when I wasn't working, I was usually at a window looking down at Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/but-when-i-wasn-t-working-i-was-usually-at-a-window-looking-down-at/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [I know: If you're looking down at Earth, you're looking through an atmosphere that has a bit of haze in many places and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-know-if-you-re-looking-down-at-earth-you-re-looking-through-an/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [Looking at the earth from afar you realize it is too small for conflict and just big enough for co-operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuri-gagarin/looking-at-the-earth-from-afar-you-realize-it-is-too-small-for/) [Yuri Gagarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuri-gagarin/) > [I'm looking forward to getting to space, looking back to earth out the copula window. I think all of it is going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mcclain/i-m-looking-forward-to-getting-to-space-looking-back-to-earth-out-the/) [Anne McClain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mcclain/) > [If I was an alien looking down at Earth and studying the way we've treated the planet, would I really think humans are worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-roe/if-i-was-an-alien-looking-down-at-earth-and-studying-the-way-we-ve/) [Alex Roe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-roe/) > [What you aren't ready for being the first time in space - on an emotional and intellectual level - is how looking down at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/what-you-aren-t-ready-for-being-the-first-time-in-space-on-an/) [Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/) > [Standing on the Moon looking back at Earth - this lovely place you just came from - you see all the colours, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/standing-on-the-moon-looking-back-at-earth-this-lovely-place-you-just/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [When you are finally in space and you're finally looking back at Earth and you realize for the first time in your life there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mcclain/when-you-are-finally-in-space-and-you-re-finally-looking-back-at/) [Anne McClain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mcclain/) > [Getting into a space suit and going outside, to me, getting your peripheral vision involved and looking at the Earth was a whole different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/getting-into-a-space-suit-and-going-outside-to-me-getting-your/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [“the Creator of all things is looking throughout the whole earth for a certain kind of heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-creator-of-all-things-is-looking-throughout-the-whole-earth-for-a/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) ## More by Robert Crippen > [If you want to go into space first time on a new vehicle that's never been flown, you want to go with a pro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/if-you-want-to-go-into-space-first-time-on-a-new-vehicle-that-s-never/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [Selection of crews is always been somewhat of a mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/selection-of-crews-is-always-been-somewhat-of-a-mystery/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [I was selected to be an astronaut on a military program called the Manned Orbiting Laboratory back in '67. That program got cancelled in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/i-was-selected-to-be-an-astronaut-on-a-military-program-called-the/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [The nature of the shuttle was, we couldn't put a crew escape system in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/the-nature-of-the-shuttle-was-we-couldn-t-put-a-crew-escape-system-in/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [The space shuttle has been a fantastic vehicle. It is unlike any other thing that we've ever built. Its capabilities have carried several hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/the-space-shuttle-has-been-a-fantastic-vehicle-it-is-unlike-any-other/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [When you work really hard for something for a long time it's almost impossible to believe that it's coming true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/when-you-work-really-hard-for-something-for-a-long-time-it-s-almost/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [Living inside the shuttle was a little like camping out. We ended up sleeping in our seats. You had to pay attention to housekeeping,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/living-inside-the-shuttle-was-a-little-like-camping-out-we-ended-up/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [Having the opportunity to fly the first flight of something like a space shuttle was the ultimate test flight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/having-the-opportunity-to-fly-the-first-flight-of-something-like-a/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [This vehicle is performing like a champ. I've got a super spaceship under me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/this-vehicle-is-performing-like-a-champ-i-ve-got-a-super-spaceship/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [We were only on orbit a little over two days, so we had no adverse effects from being weightless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/we-were-only-on-orbit-a-little-over-two-days-so-we-had-no-adverse/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [The real pleasure was having the chance to enjoy being weightless, and the other was to spend some time looking out at this beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/the-real-pleasure-was-having-the-chance-to-enjoy-being-weightless-and/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [I thought it was going to take a lot more countdowns on the pad. We actually did scrub once, but I figured we'd scrub…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/i-thought-it-was-going-to-take-a-lot-more-countdowns-on-the-pad-we/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [You're going very fast when you're on orbit, going around the world once every hour and a half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/you-re-going-very-fast-when-you-re-on-orbit-going-around-the-world/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [We were on the dark side of the Earth when we started to see outside the window this soft pink glow, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/we-were-on-the-dark-side-of-the-earth-when-we-started-to-see-outside/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) > [The real pleasure was having the chance to enjoy being weightless, and the other was to... spend some time looking out at this beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/the-real-pleasure-was-having-the-chance-to-enjoy-being-weightless-and-2/) [Robert Crippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) [Explore all 18 Robert Crippen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/) ## More Earth quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [What did you do to save the world today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie/what-did-you-do-to-save-the-world-today/) [Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie/) [Browse all 15,455 Earth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Looking down at the Earth, you started to pick up a sense of speed much more than I had noticed on orbit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Crippen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/looking-down-at-the-earth-you-started-to-pick-up-a-sense-of-speed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Earth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/looking-down-at-the-earth-you-started-to-pick-up-a-sense-of-speed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/robert-crippen-29237_earth_looking-down-at-the-earth-you-started-to_1927211.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/robert-crippen-29237_earth_looking-down-at-the-earth-you-started-to_1927211.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/robert-crippen-29237_earth_looking-down-at-the-earth-you-started-to_1927211.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Looking down at the Earth, you started to pick up a sense of speed much more than I had noticed on orbit.” — Robert Crippen", "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": "Robert Crippen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crippen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Looking down at the Earth, you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/looking-down-at-the-earth-you-started-to-pick-up-a-sense-of-speed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crippen/looking-down-at-the-earth-you-started-to-pick-up-a-sense-of-speed/#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 } } ] } ```