Once again, the folks at NASA are strapping themselves into rockets and heading off into the great unknown, and it looks like they’re getting a pretty nice view from up there. As one astronaut shared, being in space definitely makes a person think about the bigger picture. When you’re floating above our pale blue dot, it’s hard not to feel a connection to something greater. There’s just something about seeing the universe in all its massive glory that gets a person thinking about life’s big questions—like, is there a grand design, or are we just a cosmic accident?

Now, the interesting part here is not just the spiritual contemplation but the growing list of things we simple Earthlings are lining up to learn about. There’s a lot out there waiting for us, folks, and these astronauts seem to think they’re on a divine mission to figure it all out. Exploring space apparently does wonders for one’s philosophical musings, which must come as quite a surprise to those pocket-protector-wearing folks who thought they were just signing up for some cool science.

The astronaut talking about this didn’t exactly pitch it as a religious conversion, but rather an appreciation of just how tiny and, perhaps, significant we really are. Floating in space, with the whole universe staring back, it’s hard not to feel like you’re part of an epic storyline crafted by some cosmic author. It’s a mix of awe, wonder, and the tiniest bit of oh-my-goodness-what-is-out-there that makes a person pause.

Of course, back on Earth, we have plenty of folks ready to spin this tale into good versus evil, science versus faith. Yet, here we have one of our own, looking out into the starry vastness, wondering how it all began. As they say, seeing is believing—or at least pondering—and space offers quite the view. Whether they’re destined to unravel the secrets of the universe or just collecting celestial souvenirs, one thing’s for sure: space travel sure puts our day-to-day squabbles into some serious perspective.

But let’s not get too deep, after all, we’re talking about rocket riders who are paid to float and gawk. So, next time you’re feeling a bit cramped by the petty concerns here on Earth, just remember, there’s a big expanse out there filled with questions, and these guys are just starting to scratch the surface. Maybe the answers we’re looking for are just a rocket ride away—or maybe we just need to look up from time to time.