NASA astronaut quotes Psalm 30 after watching sunrise

A NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station recently said that sunrises in space remind him of a Bible verse from Psalms.

Victor Glover, one of the seven crew members of the space station Expedition 64, posted two images of the sun shining just above Earth's horizon on Instagram and Twitter.

"Took these photos today, I love sunrises and sunsets". Glover wrote. “Can you see the bands of color? They remind me of the scripture in Psalm 30, ‘weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning’. It seems darkest just before sunrise. I wish you all love and light. Goodnight from the International Space Station”.

I love sunrises and sunsets. Can you see the bands of color? They remind me of the scripture in Psalm 30, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” It seems darkest just before sunrise. I wish you all love and light. Goodnight from the @Space_Station. pic.twitter.com/YP9Hb3JZoH

— Victor Glover (@AstroVicGlover) January 13, 2021

Glover made headlines in November when he was part of a four-person crew launching a SpaceX rocket to the space station on what was the second NASA / SpaceX manned mission. He is the first black astronaut to live on the space station long term. He was a pilot and second in command on the SpaceX Crew Dragon, called Resilience.

Glover, who was selected as an astronaut in 2013, also made headlines for what he took with him into space: communion cups and a Bible. He is a member of a Church of Christ congregation in Houston, Texas, where he has taught Bible classes.

“I will probably continue in what we’ve been doing: virtual service, virtual giving, reading my Bible and praying”, Glover told the Christian Chronicle last year about his time of worship in space.

Glover said NASA's mission, and the dangers that accompany it, helped put his life in perspective. He and his wife, Dionna, have four children. “I would say that as we’ve grown our family, that’s really when I’ve started to develop a real, true appreciation of my own faith and not just the academic”, he added.