Terry W. Virts Jr.
Terry Wayne Virts Jr. is an American Air Force officer, test pilot, retired NASA astronaut, photographer, and public communicator. His career moved from high-performance military aviation into shuttle piloting, long-duration station operations, and command of an International .
- Born
- December 1, 1967
- Died
- N/A
- Birthplace
- Baltimore, Maryland,United States
Flights
2
Spacewalks
3
EVA time
19 hours, 2 minutes
In space
213 days, 10 hours, 48 minutes
Bio
Virts graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and earned a graduate degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Before NASA selected him in 2000, he flew F-16s, served as a test pilot, and built the operational background expected of shuttle and station crew members.
He piloted STS-130, the shuttle mission that delivered the Tranquility module and Cupola to the ISS, then launched on Soyuz TMA-15M for Expeditions 42 and 43. During that long-duration mission he commanded Expedition 43 and helped operate the station through research, visiting vehicle, and maintenance work.
Virts logged 213 days, 10 hours, 48 minutes in space and completed three totaling 19 hours, 2 minutes. His profile combines pilot discipline, station command experience, and a later public role explaining spaceflight through photography, film, and writing.