Mission Overview

Frank White has dedicated his life to understanding “The Overview Effect,” a profound cognitive and emotional shift that astronauts experience on viewing the Earth from space. Yet he has never experienced the Overview Effect himself. The goal of this mission is to purchase two seats to send Frank to space alongside one member of the space community. Frank is committed to bringing the experience back down to Earth and sharing it with a world yearning for unity. By contributing funds and helping Frank leave the Earth, you may be selected to join him on his flight.

The Overview Effect

Frank coined the term "Overview Effect," describing the profound cognitive and emotional shift astronauts experience when they see the Earth from afar. His 1987 book became the defining text on this paradigm shift, which is part of human spaceflight. The concept stuck. Astronauts quote him. Space agencies reference his work. Commercial operators sell the Overview Effect experience.

For nearly 40 years, Frank White has helped us understand what it means to leave Earth and look back at our home. Now it’s his turn. He is committed to supporting the movement to bring the Overview Effect down to Earth, shifting global consciousness toward the truth of our situation as the crew of “Spaceship Earth.”

Frank White has never experienced the Overview Effect.

Together, we can change that. Let's help Frank to finally experience the phenomenon he has spent a lifetime studying. We're raising funds to not only send Frank to space, but have one community member join him.

As a contributor, you’re joining the mission and will help shape it from today through launch. Even better, it could be you that joins Frank on this journey to space.

Oh, we plan to have one more crew member, an AI chatbot. This addition will tackle an intriguing question: Frank is wrestling with: Could artificial intelligence experience the Overview Effect? Frank has already completed substantial research on this topic, and the spaceflight will be its culmination. Stay tuned.

How the Funds are Used

The idea is simple: We raise $2 million for Frank and his winning travel companion first. Every dollar beyond that potentially scales the mission from suborbital to orbital or beyond.

The goal may seem ambitious, but don’t underestimate the power of thousands of people working together to make a big impact. Two thousand people contributing an average of $1,000 will ensure that the mission succeeds. But every contribution matters, no matter how big or small. Imagine what we could do if we reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of people around the world?

One percent of funds go to Space Camp USA to train and inspire the next generation of astronauts.

Mission scales with amount of funds raised.

Your Voice

When you contribute, you receive $OVERVIEW tokens proportional to your contribution. These tokens give you voting power to help select who is eligible for a rigorous four-stage selection process to decide who flies alongside Frank. But don’t worry if you’re not well-versed in crypto; your debit card will do the trick, and the transaction is simple and safe.

Contribute With Confidence

All funds are held in what’s called a smart contract via MoonDAO's Launchpad. If we can't send at least Frank to space, funds will be returned. All contributions and future transactions are transparent and verifiable online.

How you can contribute and join the mission.

Shape the Mission

Your contribution gets you $OVERVIEW tokens. The more you contribute, the bigger your say in who flies and how the mission unfolds.

Help Select the Crew

Your contribution gives you voting power to determine who moves forward in a four-stage selection process to find the person that best represents the space community and deserves the opportunity to fly with Frank.

How to Compete to Fly with Frank

Support the Mission: Every contribution directly funds the flight and grants you governance rights to help select the candidate pool competing to join Frank on his flight.
Become a Citizen: To be eligible to fly, you must be a MoonDAO Citizen. Contributions over $100 USD include citizenship at no additional cost.
Rally Your Community: Share the mission on social media and mobilize your network. Your ability to activate a community is a primary factor in the eligibility process. Access materials to help spread the word.

The Selection Process

Round 1: Community Fundraising

Want to fly with Frank? The top 25 candidates who rally the most community support and backing via the $OVERVIEW token advance to the selection rounds. Mobilize your network to back both the mission and your candidacy.

🚀 View the Live Leaderboard & Cast Your Vote

Round 2: The Essay

Candidates write about what the Overview Effect means to them. An AI model trained on Frank White's criteria advances the top 10.

Round 3: Astronaut Review

A committee of professional and commercial astronauts evaluates video submissions by semifinalists, narrowing to five based on merit, readiness, and personal story.

Round 4: Final Vote

The MoonDAO community makes the final call using MoonDAO’s native $vMOONEY governance token.

Understanding the competitive selection process.

Why This Matters

Now we have the chance to send the father of the Overview Effect to space to experience the view that defined his life's work. You can make it happen.

By contributing, you're honoring Frank White's legacy, spreading the Overview Effect to a new generation, and potentially opening the door to your own journey beyond Earth.

Coby Cotton and Eiman Jahangir

MoonDAO's community has already sent two people to space on suborbital flights: Coby Cotton and Eiman Jahangir. This model works when thousands of people around the world unite behind an ambitious mission.

Let's make history together. #SendFranktoSpace

Key FAQs

What type of mission will this be? And which carrier will you fly with?

That depends on how much we raise and which commercial service providers are available at that price point. Our goal supports a suborbital flight for two people, but there is no upper limit to what we can raise and where the flight will go.

What happens if we raise more than the initial goal?

The more funds we can raise together, the bigger the impact we can make, and the mission profile can scale to orbital or even lunar flyby. The community will vote on stretch goals and mission parameters depending on the funding milestones we hit. Options include: more ambitious mission profiles (orbital or lunar), enhanced mission impact (media, documentation, education grants), or supporting organizations aligned with the Overview Effect. Every decision is transparent and governed by contributors ($OVERVIEW token holders).

What do I receive for contributing?

You receive $OVERVIEW governance tokens proportional to your contribution. These tokens give you voting power in mission decisions and crew selection. They are not securities and carry no expectation of profit. They exist solely for mission governance. Contributions are not tax deductible.

Who can compete for the community seat?

Only MoonDAO Citizens are eligible, but anyone who contributes over $100 to the mission can register for free as a Citizen and be eligible for the selection process. The four rounds (fundraising, essay, astronaut review, final vote) are designed to be merit-based while giving the community final say. Physical and age requirements will depend on the carrier and mission profile, but we aim to make this as accessible as possible. The ability to obtain a travel visa to the launch provider country will also be required.

What if we don't reach the goal?

If we can't send at least Frank to space, funds will be returned. If we reach that minimum but fall short of the amount needed for two seats, the contributors decide on how to use remaining funds, whether to proceed with a reduced mission scope or pursue alternatives like zero-gravity flights or launch viewing experiences with Frank.

What happens if Frank can’t fly?

Frank is a youthful 81, and we expect him to stay that way. We will be open about Frank’s fitness to fly throughout the campaign and during the preparation phase of the flight. Our flight surgeon, N. Stuart Harris, MD, MFA, FRCP Edin.Chief, MGB SPEAR MED Division (Space, Ecological, Arctic, Resource limited Medicine) will make the final decision on Frank’s ability to complete the mission. If for some reason, Frank is unable to fly, contributors will have a choice of asking for refunds, finding his replacement, and/or supporting the flight of another person who was competing to fly with Frank.

Any questions or other inquiries? Email info [at] moondao.com

Join the community and conversation on Discord.

READ THE OVERVIEW EFFECT FLIGHT TERMS & CONDITIONS