Terry Virts - A Beautiful Planet

Terry Virts was a NASA astronaut from the year 2000. The Maryland native graduated with Academic Distinction from the United States Air Force Academy in 1989 and has logged over 4,300 flight hours in more than 40 different aircraft. He served as the Endeavour pilot for STS-130 in 2010, and was assigned to Expedition 42/43, where he served as commander for Expedition 43 in 2015. Virts has conducted three spacewalks totalling more than 19 hours and has logged 212 days in space on his two flights. Was previously assigned to the Extravehicular Activity Robotics branch.
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Chapters

00:00 | Trailer
02:32 Brian’s thoughts on the episode
05:56 Brian’s Introduction
06:22 Thoughts on the UK and its history of exploration
08:33 Watching The Right Stuff with George Zamka the night before going into space
09:25 Viewing Gravity with Samantha Cristoforetti whilst in space
11:29 Did The Right Stuff bring back memories of going to Flight School
12:37 Characteristics required for being a test pilot or astronaut
14:15 How the overview has affected Terry
16:46 In space with a Russian during conflict between Russia and Ukraine
20:21 Robust quality of Russian space technology whilst the US pushes technology limits
23:44 Volume of work doesn’t allow for too much contemplation
25:06 Are astronauts kept busy for psychological reasons
27:33 The importance of knowing about psychological changes from being separated from earth
28:43 How to lead a successful team mission
30:21 How astronauts are affected by communication delay when going further into space
31:48 The us versus them mentality
33;22 Why Terry now associates different countries with colour for his forthcoming book
36-01 A passionate photographer taking the opportunity to take pictures of earth from space
42:22 How does an astronaut replace that experience on earth
43:24 How Terry became an astronaut
47:46 Why Terry trained to be a test pilot
51:31 Scariest moment as a pilot
53:16 What it takes to be a F16 pilot
55:43 As an astronaut, what he had to do mentally and physically to cope with 200 hours in space
58:21 Dealing with a super dangerous ammonia emergency in space
1:04:01 Russia’s political attitude within the space industry
1:06:44 Terry’s views on Spacex and Orbital ATK
1:09:15 Should NASA be building cargo supply rockets or a commercial endeavour try it
1:11:42 What is needed to get man on Mars
1:14:10 If man does go to Mars, can we get them back
1:16:45 Terry’s response to those who say we did not land on the moon
1:28:54 The need for constant space exploration PR
1:21:56 As Terry orbited the earth many times can he say if it is round or flat
1:23:02 Does Terry ever consider there are Aliens, or life, out in space
1:28:49 An indication from space of the world’s wealth distribution
1:35:31 Does NASA have any part of Terry’s life now he has retired from them
1:36:46 Success secrets
1:37:28 The prospects for a world with faster broadband connectivity
1:37:38 What Terry would like people to take from watching A Beautiful Planet
1:39:14 How Terry got through the long wait to be chosen to go into space
1:42:31 Transitioning from Nasa to the next phase of his life
1:43:59 Creative energy will perhaps drive Terry’s next project
1:45:43 Phone call to the 20 year old Terry Virts
1:47:27 Best advice ever received
1:48:54 Advice to the young person wanting to know how to fulfil their ambition
1:50:34 Brian’s summing up.