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Recent blog posts:

29.05.2023

Baikonur tour – Progress MS-23 launch

20 photos

We invite you to see the photo report about our trip to Baikonur in May 2023.

06.09.2022

Autumn flight season

40 photos

Summer is over, but there is no reason to be sad, because autumn is a time of new ideas, big plans and interesting adventures!

Zero-g adventure
31.08.2022

Zero-g adventure

20 photos

A hot day at the end of summer brought together in Star City the fans of incredible adventures who chose the most unique experience –zero-g flight. This is a feeling like nothing else, this is a real weightlessness, which is experienced only by astronauts on the ISS and passengers of our special aircraft IL-76 MDK!

04.08.2022

Space weekend

6 photos

If you are interested in space or just want to have an exciting and educational weekend, an excursion to Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center is a great choice! And so did our guests on this warm summer Sunday.

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Terry Wayne Virts

Colonel US AF
NASA austronaut, USA

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH:

Born on December 1, 1967, in Baltimore, Maryland, but considers Columbia, Maryland, to be his hometown.

EDUCATION:

In 1985 graduated from Oakland Mills High School, Columbia, Maryland.
In 1988 studied in France, at the Air Force Academy under the program of students exchange of top-level service schools.
In 1989 received B.S. (Mathematics) at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
In 1997 received M.A.S. (Aeronautics) from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

MARITAL STATUS:

Married to Stacy Hill; they have two children.

AWARDS:

Has several Air Force Commendation and Defense Meritorious Service Medals.

HOBBY:

Running, motor cycling, swimming, underwater sports.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

In 1990 got qualification as a pilot at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. Upon completion of basic fighter and F-16 training Virts was assigned to the 307th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, where he served as an operational F-16 pilot. After Hurricane Andrew struck Homestead in 1992, his squadron was moved to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. From 1993 to 1994 he served in the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea. Virts took part in low-altitude night attack missions. From 1995 to 1998 he served in the 22nd Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. He flew the suppression of enemy (Iraq) air defenses missions, logging 45 combat missions. In 1997 Virts was enlisted in the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He graduated from this School in December 1998. From 1999 he was an Experimental Test Pilot in the F-16 at Edwards Air Force Base. On July 26, 2000 Virts was selected as an astronaut candidate (the 18th selection by NASA) for training as a shuttle pilot. He passed basic training. Upon completion of this training he was qualified as a shuttle pilot and assigned to the Astronaut Office Station Operations Branch. He worked as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) during STS-115, STS-116 and STS-117 missions and the crews work onboard the Station, namely ISS-8 – ISS-15. Early in November 2008 it was reported that Virts was assigned as the crew pilot of the Endevour shuttle (STS-130) but it was unofficial statement. On December 5, 2008 his assignment was officially confirmed by NASA press release No. 08-321.

He performed his first spaceflight on February 8 – 22, 2010 as a pilot of the Endevour shuttle (STS-130).

The mission duration was 13 days 18 hr 6 min 22 sec.

In June 2012 it was reported that Virts was assigned to the crew of ISS-42/43. In December 2012 he together with Anton Shkaplerov and Samantha Cristoforetti became members of the prime crew of Soyuz TMA-15М (ISS-42/43) and the backup crew of Soyuz TMA-13М (ISS-40/41) as the ISS flight engineer-2.

On May 6, 2014 Terry Virts began to pass the integrated training as commander of the ISS-40/41 backup crew together with the vehicle commander Anton Shkaplerov and flight engineer Samantha Cristoforetti. On May 6, 2014 the examination training was provided on the Soyuz TMA simulator with an excellent mark. On May 7 the crew passed the test training on the ISS Russian Segment with such a mark as 4.5.

On May 8, 2014 at the meeting of the State Interdepartmental Commission Terry Virts was approved within the backup crew. On May 27, 2014 at Baikonur at the meeting of the State Commission for flight tests of manned space complexes he was approved as flight enginer-1 of the Soyuz TMA-13M MTV backup crew.

On May 28, 2014 during the Soyuz TMA-13M MTV launch Terry Virts was a backup of flight engineer-1.