Join Grace Cho, CEO of Artrepreneur, for an inspiring conversation with Terry Virts, a former NASA astronaut who shares his journey from dreaming under the stars to exploring the vastness of space. Virts delves into the pivotal moments of his 16-year career at NASA, his transition into entrepreneurship, and the unparalleled experiences of spacewalks that offered him a unique perspective on Earth’s beauty and fragility. Beyond the technical achievements, he discusses his contributions to making space more accessible through projects like virtual reality simulations and the film “A Beautiful Planet.” Reflecting on the advancements in space exploration and the importance of democracy and societal progress, Virts emphasizes the value of family, leaving a positive impact, and the pursuit of passions. This episode is a compelling narrative of exploration, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams, inviting listeners to be inspired by Virts’ extraordinary journey.
Colonel (USAF retired) Terry Virts has spent over seven months in space during his two spaceflights, piloting the Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-130 in 2010 and commanding the International Space Station during Expedition 42/43 in 2014/2015. He served in the US Air Force as a fighter pilot, test pilot, NASA astronaut, and is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Harvard Business School. He is currently working as an executive coach as well as consulting in the energy industry, helping to develop energy transition technologies such as carbon capture.
Terry is a guest lecturer at the Harvard Business School where he won the 2021 Alumni Achievement Award. He provides management consulting services and speaks around the globe on a variety of environmental, business, and motivational topics. Terry serves as an advisor for several companies in the aerospace and energy industries. He has directed several films, including One More Orbit (2019) and The Night After (2023), and is a guest lecturer at the USC School of Cinematic Arts where he teaches about his IMAX movie A Beautiful Planet. Virts hosts the podcast Down to Earth with Terry Virts, and is the author of The Astronaut’s Guide to Leaving the Planet, an illustrated children’s book (2023), How to Astronaut: Everything you Need to Know Before Leaving Earth (2020), Apo11o: To the Moon and Back (2019), a limited- edition reproduction of the Apollo 11 flight plan, as well as the National Geographic photography book View From Above (2017).
