Terry W. Virts

Infobox Astronaut


name =Terry W. Virts, Jr.
type =NASA Astronaut
status =Active
nationality =American
date_birth =
date_death =
place_birth =
place_death =
occupation =
rank =
selection =2000 NASA Group
time =
mission =None
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Lt. Col. Terry W. Virts, Jr., is a NASA astronaut.

Background and education

Virts was born in 1967 in Baltimore, Maryland, but considers Columbia, Maryland, to be his hometown. He graduated from Oakland Mills High School in Columbia, Maryland in 1985. 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.

Military career

Virts was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1989 and earned his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. He completed basic fighter and F-16 training and was assigned to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. After Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992, his squadron was moved to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. He was later assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and the 22nd Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Virts was selected for Test Pilot School in 1997 at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Following graduation, he was an Experimental Test Pilot at the F-16 Combined Test Force. He has logged over 3,000 flight hours in more than 40 different aircraft.

NASA career

Selected as a pilot by NASA in July 2000, Virts reported for training in August 2000. His technical assignments have included lead astronaut for the T-38 program, Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) test crewmember, and Expedition 9 crew support astronaut. He is currently assigned as a CAPCOM, communicating with station and shuttle crews from mission control in Houston.

Awards and honors

Virts graduated with Academic Distinction from the United States Air Force Academy and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, was a distinguished graduate of Undergraduate Pilot Training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, and F-16 training at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

External links

* [http://www11.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/virts-tw.html NASA bio]
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/virts_terry.htm Spacefacts biography of Terry W. Virts, Jr.]