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United States Terry W. Virts, Jr. has transitioned from a distinguished U.S. Air Force Colonel and NASA Astronaut to a respected public speaker, author, and political candidate.
Terry Virts participated in 'Changemaker Talks: How to Astronaut with Terry Virts', an event at a community arts center.
Terry Virts was featured in the Discovery Series, providing professional arts and education experiences.
Terry Virts was a featured speaker in a conversation series hosted by the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.
Terry Virts authored 'View From Above: An Astronaut Photographs the World', a coffee table book featuring images and stories from his NASA career.
Terry Virts authored 'How To Astronaut: An Insiders Guide To Leaving Planet Earth'.
Virts joined Group Of Humans, a global community of interdisciplinary experts, contributing to their 'One Step Further' lunar initiative focused on the future space economy.
Born in December 1967 in Baltimore, Maryland, Terry W. Virts, Jr. considers Columbia, Maryland, his hometown. He graduated with Academic Distinction from the United States Air Force Academy in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and later earned a Master of Science in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1997. His military career began as a Second Lieutenant in 1989, earning his pilot wings in 1990. He served as an operational F-16 pilot at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, and later at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. From 1993 to 1994, he flew low-altitude night attack missions in the F-16 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Subsequently, he was reassigned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, from 1995 to 1998, flying 45 combat missions in the F-16. He then attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, becoming an Experimental Test Pilot where he was the chief test pilot for the F-16 HARM Targeting System and Multi-Mission Computer programs. Virts has logged over 5,300 flight hours across more than 40 different aircraft.
Terry W. Virts, Jr. was selected as a pilot by NASA in July 2000. His technical assignments included serving as the lead astronaut for the T-38 program, a Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) test crew member, and a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) for numerous space missions. He was also the lead Ascent and Entry CAPCOM, Chief of the Astronaut Office Robotics Branch, and lead astronaut for the Space Launch System heavy lift booster. His spaceflight experience includes flying as the Endeavour pilot for STS-130 in 2010, a mission that delivered the Tranquility module and Cupola to the International Space Station (ISS). During this 13-day mission, he was the lead robotic operator responsible for outfitting the new modules. In 2014, he launched for Expedition 42/43 aboard a Russian Soyuz, eventually serving as commander for Expedition 43 in 2015. Over 212 days in space, he conducted three spacewalks totaling over 19 hours to prepare for the delivery of International Docking Adapters. He retired from NASA in August 2016.
Following his retirement from NASA, Virts has engaged in public speaking, business consultancy, literature, and filmmaking. In 2019, he was part of an eight-person crew that achieved the fastest circumnavigation of Earth via both geographic poles by airplane, setting a Guinness World Record. In June 2025, he announced his candidacy as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Texas, emphasizing a “common-sense Democrat” approach. He published several books, including “View From Above: An Astronaut Photographs the World” (2017) and “How To Astronaut” (2020), and has appeared on podcasts like “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Virts has been recognized with numerous awards, including the NASA Space Flight Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Medal, among others.
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