Samantha Harvey, a British writer, recently won the prestigious Booker Prize for fiction with her novel Orbital. The ceremony took place on November 12, 2024, at Old Billingsgate in London. Orbital tells the story of six astronauts on the International Space Station, watching Earth’s changes as they experience 16 sunrises and sunsets in a single day. The novel explores important themes such as the fragility of Earth and the impact humans have on the environment. Harvey started writing the novel during the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting research by reading astronaut accounts and watching space station footage. Harvey’s work has received praise for its powerful message on climate change. The novel highlights how human actions harm the planet, which in turn affects humanity. Experts have praised Orbital for its clear and beautiful writing. Edmund de Waal, chair of the Booker judging panel, called the novel “miraculous.” With recent technological advancements in space observation, the novel’s message has gained more attention. Harvey, the first British winner since 2020, expressed excitement about receiving the £50,000 prize, which she plans to use for a new bicycle, taxes, and a trip to Japan.