It is widely assumed that traveling into space is a unique and remarkable experience. The fact that it has a lasting impact on astronauts is easy for most people to accept. The actual nature of the experience, however, is less well understood. The result is that the space experience is widely misunderstood by the general public and even many of the leaders and advocates of the New Space industry and larger space community. The rapid rise and sophistication of cognitive science provides us with a wealth of research and models for gaining a greater understanding of this experience, which is soon to affect our entire civilization.