ISS COL. TERRY VIRTS

Astronaut, Pilot, Speaker, Photographer, Author 

• Dynamic speaker with amazing tales and stunning visuals from his time in space

• Seasoned fighter pilot and test pilot of over 40 different types of aircraft. Col. US Air Force (Ret.)

• Over 200 Days in space at the International Space Station (ISS)

• Virts had one of the most demanding jobs in the world. One of only 4 astronauts ever to pilot the NASA space shuttle, fly on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, Commander of the International Space Station and perform space walks

• An avid and artistic photographer with more photos than any other astronaut from space

• One of the first feature film videographer astronauts in space for the IMAX movie “A Beautiful Planet”

• Of NASA Astronauts he has the 3rd most days continuously in space

• Speaks Russian and French Fluently

Most recently, Terry is one of the stars of the new IMAX film, “A Beautiful Planet” released in April of 2016, a breathtaking portrait of Earth from space, providing an increased understanding of our planet and galaxy as never seen before. Made in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the film features stunning footage of our magnificent blue planet — and the effects humanity has had on it over time — captured by Terry and his crew mates aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Astronaut Terry Virts grew up in Columbia, Maryland outside of Baltimore. The only child of Evelyn and Terry Senior, he knew he wanted to be an astronaut since he read his first book about the Apollo missions when he was in kindergarten. He went on to excel in school and he earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics (with a French minor) from the United States Air Force Academy in 1989 and a master of aeronautical science degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1997. While at the Air Force Academy, Virts attended the École de l’Air in 1988 on an exchange program.

Virts was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and earned his pilot wings at Williams AFB in Arizona. He completed training and was assigned to the 307^th and 308^th Tactical Fighter Squadrons at Homestead AFB, Florida, the 307^th Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB in Georgia, the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and the 22nd Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Virts attended Test Pilot School in 1998 at Edwards Air Force Base, California and has logged over 5,300 flight hours in more than 40 different aircraft.

Selected by NASA to become an Astronaut in 2000, he was the pilot of STS-130 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in February 2010, the only mission to install two elements to the International Space Station- the Cupola observation module and Node 3 “Tranquility.” On November 23, 2014, Soyuz TMA-15M carrying Terry and Italian Samantha Cristoforetti and Russian Anton Shkaplerov launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, as he began his Expedition 42 mission.

On February 28, 2015, following the death of beloved Star Trek actor, Leonard Nimoy, who famously portrayed Spock, Terry tweeted an image from the International Space Station of his Vulcan Cohanim-inspired salute as the ISS flew over Boston, the city of Nimoy’s birth. In March 2015, Virts assumed command of the International Space Station as commander of Expedition 43. He has spent over 213 days in space in total.

To learn more about Col. Terry Virts availability for your event-

(303) 478-6652 or karen@denverspeakersbureau.com