By Peg West
Grand Valley State University

Actor William Shatner’s emotional reaction to his brief ride into space on Oct. 13 was a fascinating, unfiltered response that gives new insight into how experiencing space affects humans, according to a Grand Valley State University cultural anthropologist.

Dr. Deana Weibel, who specializes in studying space exploration and religion, has conducted interviews with people who traveled to space to get their impressions on the experience.

The immediate, unfettered reaction from Shatner is a new element to observe, she said. His thoughts were not filtered through memory as they would be for an interview conducted later. And he also is not steeped in the cautious NASA culture, where those going to space are trained to communicate in a straightforward way.

“This is an outpouring of an instant reaction without time passing; it’s really fresh. I’m glad it’s recorded because it’s going to be influential,” Weibel said. “I know I’m going to make reference to this.”

The experiences of people traveling into space through private companies and as paying customers may present another channel of research on how people react to seeing space because they can be more open, Weibel said.

 

Weibel was struck by how profoundly the 90-year-old Shatner was affected, noting that while there was an air of celebration with those around him as he exited the capsule, Shatner appeared to want to reflect.

“William Shatner didn’t want to pop the champagne and jump up and down,” Weibel said. “He just had his mind blown.”

She said she has encountered the cautious NASA culture when she interviewed active astronauts as part of her research on religion and space. They were hesitant to go far afield, even knowing personal details would be omitted.

“People have to be really careful about what they say,” Weibel said. “There’s an awareness among active astronauts that they may lose their next flight if they say something questionable.”

 

But Shatner freely and emotionally encapsulated his experience, describing his awe. And his references to the life on the blue of Earth along with the black of space, pondering if the latter was death, had religious overtones even if he didn’t talk specifically about religion, Weibel said.

She also noted that his words immediately after the flight indicated he experienced what author Frank White coined as the “overview effect.” She described it as a profound emotional response to seeing Earth from space and realizing its fragility; some astronauts have experienced it, while others haven’t.

“It’s recognizing the reality of living on this sphere suspended in space that hits you in a way that was so abstract before,” Weibel said.