Your Mission: Go to Space with Frank White

Author and space philosopher aims to experience the 'Overview Effect' firsthand, then share it with the world

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:37pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A grassroots movement led by MoonDAO has launched a campaign to send author and philosopher Frank White, 81, to space. White is well-known for coining the term and developing the 'Overview Effect' theory, which describes the profound cognitive and emotional shift that astronauts experience when viewing Earth from afar. The campaign aims to raise $2 million to fund a flight for White and a member of the space community to be determined via a competitive selection process.

Why it matters

The Overview Effect is believed to trigger positive changes, including feelings of awe, unity, and connectedness, among humans who venture off-world. White has interviewed over 50 astronauts about the transformation, and now it's his turn to have the experience. The campaign aims to spread the Overview Effect to a new generation and potentially open the doors for others to journey beyond Earth.

The details

The 'Go to Space with Frank White' fundraising effort runs from March 12 to April 27, with a target flight date to be determined. Contributors of $100 or more can become MoonDAO 'citizens' and compete for the seat to fly alongside White. The competition requires an essay reviewed by a committee of professional and commercial astronauts, and a final vote by the MoonDAO community.

  • The fundraising campaign runs from Thursday, March 12, through Monday, April 27, 2026.
  • The target flight date is to be determined.

The players

Frank White

An author, space philosopher, educator, and advocate for humanity's sustainable future off-world. He is the author of the seminal book 'The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution' and has interviewed over 50 astronauts about the phenomenon.

MoonDAO

An open-source space platform where everything is proposed, governed, and created by citizens. MoonDAO has already sent two civilian astronauts to space, Coby Cotton and Eiman Jahangir.

Nicole P. Stott

A NASA astronaut who is supporting White's flight.

Pablo Moncada-Larrotiz

The founder of MoonDAO.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“For nearly 40 years, Frank White has helped humanity understand what it means to experience our planetary home from the vantage point of space. Frank has the unique ability to share the transcendent experience of space travel with a world that sorely needs it. Yet he has never been to space himself. Together, we can change that.”

— Nicole P. Stott, NASA astronaut

“Don't underestimate the power of thousands of people working together to make a big impact. As we've seen in our previous successful spaceflight campaigns, every contribution matters, regardless of how big or small.”

— Pablo Moncada-Larrotiz, Founder of MoonDAO

“The more funds we can raise together, the bigger impact we can make. The mission profile can even scale to orbital or a lunar flyby.”

— Pablo Moncada-Larrotiz, Founder of MoonDAO

“By contributing, you are honoring Frank White's legacy, spreading the Overview Effect to a new generation, and potentially opening the doors for your own journey beyond Earth.”

— Pablo Moncada-Larrotiz, Founder of MoonDAO

“The most important benefit of this project is to bring the Overview Effect down to Earth, creating a new paradigm for society that honors our unity and oneness. We are truly all in this together, the crew of Spaceship Earth.”

— Frank White

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This campaign aims to send Frank White, a pioneering thinker on the Overview Effect, to space to experience the profound cognitive and emotional shift that astronauts describe, and then share that transformative perspective with the world. By contributing, supporters can help spread this important insight and potentially open the door for their own journey beyond Earth.