They were told this in training: keep a tally each day when you wake, tell yourself this is the morning of a new day. Be clear with yourself on this matter. This is the morning of a new day.
-- Narration (Orbit 1, ascending)

Importance: This quote reflects the novel's exploration of the theme of time by illustrating how the astronauts must impose a structured sense of day and night to navigate their extended, repetitive environment. The insistence on acknowledging each day as a new beginning underscores the disorienting effects of space travel on the perception of time. This daily ritual becomes a means of managing the cyclical nature of their existence and maintaining psychological stability amidst the endless orbiting of the space station. It highlights how the astronauts' attempts to impose order on time serve as a coping mechanism for the unique challenges of their temporal experience in space.

It’s a painting inside a...
-- Narration/Shaun's Teacher (Orbit 1, ascending)