NASA Astronaut to Discuss 'Orbital Perspective' in Google+ Hangout

Ron Garan knows a thing or two about orbital perspective. The NASA astronaut has traveled 71,075,867 miles in 2,842 orbits around the Earth and completed a six-month stay aboard the International Space Station.

But now he wants all Earth-dwelling humans to start thinking orbitally, too.

See also: 55 Astonishing Images of Earth From Space

Garan will host a Google+ Hangout, titled "The #KeyIsWe," to discuss ways individuals can collaborate across cultures. It will take place Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. ET.

Garan explained the importance of collaboration at the 2013 Social Good Summit. He calls it the "orbital perspective" — viewing the world as one whole piece instead of a lot of little parts, segmented by geographical and cultural borders.

The idea that people need to embrace collaboration dawned on him when he was in orbit and noticed the manmade India-Pakistan border, he said. And while he knew the border existed, he still saw Earth as "beautiful, tranquil and peaceful."

"These are not clichés that astronauts say because it feels good," he said. Seeing the planet in that serene state made Garan realize that back on Earth, we need to start breaking down barriers.

He wants to brainstorm ways that people from all cultures can work together, and hopes the first #KeyIsWe Hangout will start the conversation. It starts with collaboration, he explained, and communication "fosters accountability that fosters trust."

"We don't have to accept the status quo," he said. "You don't have to be in orbit to have the orbital perspective."

About Social Good Summit

The Social Good Summit is where big ideas meet new media to create innovative solutions and is brought to you by Mashable, The 92nd Street Y, The United Nations Foundation, The United Nations Development Programme, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Ericsson. Held during U.N. Week, the Social Good Summit unites a dynamic community of global leaders to discuss a big idea: the power of innovative thinking and technology to solve our greatest challenges.

Date: Sept. 22 through Sept. 24
Time: 12 to 6 p.m. each day
Location: 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., New York, N.Y.
Tickets are sold-out, but tune into the Livestream.

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BONUS: 10 Moving Quotes From Day 2 of Social Good Summit

1. 

   1. Al Gore, Former Vice President

   "It's absolutely absurd to treat the sky as if it were an open sewer."

2. 

   2. Elba Graciela Velasquez, Let Girls Lead

   "The future of 2030 depends on our decision to invest in adolescent girls."

3. 

   3. Jack Andraka, High School Student and Cancer Researcher

   "Science shouldn't be a luxury, knowledge should not be a commodity."

4. 

   4. Joseph Romm, Founding Editor, ClimateProgress.org

   "One man with courage is a majority, each one of you can be a majority of one."

5. 

   5. Malala Yousafzai, Education Advocate

   "The only thing that happened when I got shot was that weakness, fear and hopelessness died."

6. 

   6. Maria Ressa, CEO and Founder of Rappler.com

   "You move things forward just by talking about them."

7. 

   7. Melinda Gates, Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

   "It's not renewable energy, it's rational energy."

8. 

   8. Shiza Shahid, Founder and Executive Director of the Malala Fund

   "Education isn't simply about literacy, it's about giving girls back their power."

9. 

   9. Timothy E Wirth, Vice Chairman of the U.N. Foundation

   "Change comes from the inside out."

10. 

    10. Ziaddin Yousafzai, Father of Malala

    "In most parts of the world, when a girl is born, her wings are clipped. She is not able to fly."

Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani