Terry Virts
Astronaut. Photographer. Entrepreneur.
Terry Virts retired from the space program after having achieved nearly everything he ever dreamed possible, including serving in the U.S. Air Force as an F-16 fighter and test pilot, piloting the Space Shuttle Endeavour, serving as Commander for the International Space Station, and conducting three spacewalks during a 200-day mission in 2014 & 2015.
During his seven months in space, Terry led a multi-national team that included Russian Cosmonauts, U.S. and Italian Astronauts, during some of the tensest relations with Russia since the Cold War, and through 3 onboard accidents that resulted in an extended stay in space. While there, he took more than 300,000 photographs and hours of video—the most of any space mission before or since. These images form the backbone of the IMAX film, A Beautiful Planet, featuring Terry and narrated by Jennifer Lawrence. National Geographic published View from Above, a book featuring some of his best images alongside his reflections on spaceflight, stewardship of life on earth, and our place in the cosmos.
A compelling speaker and regular contributing instructor at Harvard Business School, Terry shares his insights in a wide variety of venues, from Fortune 500 Board rooms to concert halls, to Title One schools. His latest book is How to Astronaut: Everything you need to know before leaving Earth.
An Astronaut's View from Above
200 consecutive days in space can shift your perspective of life on Earth. Before retiring from NASA, Terry Virts had mastered every aviation and aerospace job imaginable - from serving the Air Force as a fighter pilot and then test pilot, Top Gun-style, to serving as Commander of the International Space Station and pilot of Space Shuttle Endeavor. He also took more photographs from space than any astronaut before or since.
His extended time in weightless space, observing life on Earth from above, while commanding a multinational crew that included astronaut Scott Kelly, Italy's celebrated astronaut, Samantha Cristoforetti, and a team of Russian Cosmonauts turned out to be a lesson in crisis management, diplomacy, and the resilience of the human spirit.
In this captivating show, Virts shares the astronaut's view of the world, offering stunning aerial views of our planet and the vastness that surrounds it, along with reflections of life on Earth.
Featured Presentation
Photos: courtesy Terry Virts
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