Her son, Terry, was only 2 years old when he saw the first man walk on the moon on TV, Evelyn Coulson recently recalled, but he was old enough to enthusiastically announce: "I gonna do that!"

Thirty-nine years later, he's getting close.

Columbia-raised Air Force Col. Terry Virts Jr., who joined the roster of astronauts in 2000, was recently named to pilot the space shuttle Endeavour on a flight to the International Space Station in December.

The 12-day mission will deliver the Node 3 module, containing living quarters and a water-recycling system, Virts said, as well as a robotic control station that will provide a 360-degree view from within the station.

The mission will be the last dealing with major construction on the station, although later missions will transport spare parts and other supplies.

While onboard computers control the ascent and much of the shuttle's flight, Virts will still have plenty to do.

The pilot handles rendezvous and docking with the space station, flies manually during reentry when the speed is below Mach 1, and can take over at any time if there's a malfunction, Virts explained.

"Usually, the commander lets the pilot fly a little bit," he said.

Will this leave him a lot of time for gazing out the windows in awe during the 12-day mission?

"Time is the most precious commodity there is in space," he said, adding, "My commander [Marine Col. George Zamka] says I have the busiest training schedule among the crew."

That's partly because Virts is a first-time space shuttle flier, and also because during the mission, he'll be working on one of the main robotic arm movers and the sensor boom, which checks the underside of the shuttle to make sure it's flight-worthy.

He'll also help others suit up for space walks (not part of the job description of pilots) and set up the shuttle's photo and TV networks.

Plenty of flying time

As for Virts being a "first-time flier," that's only true if you're just counting the space shuttle.

Virts grew up with two NASA-Goddard Space Center employee parents and, his mother said, planned from age 7 or 8 to attend the Air Force Academy.

During middle and high school (Oakland Mills, class of 1985), he researched and contacted the academy, as well as the senators who could nominate him, to learn how best to prove he had the right stuff for admission. (Coulson still has her son's Post-it notes-to-self to prove it.) Sure enough, Virts graduated from the academy, became an F-16 fighter pilot, then a T-38 test pilot and finally an astronaut, according to plan. Along the way, he picked up a master's degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

He has logged more than 3,700 flight hours in more than 40 different aircraft. For the last four years, in addition to keeping up his own flight credentials, Virts has been training on simulators such as the replica space station in an immense pool of water.

He has also worked at Mission Control in Houston -- one of those familiar guys in shirts and ties -- as a capsule communicator for eight expeditions (the six-month stays on board the shuttle) and three shuttle missions like his own.

'Hometown Hero'

He has also gone on public relations jaunts, including making presentations at the Maryland Science Center, and the Air and Space Museum, and throwing out the first ball at an Orioles game.

It's all part of NASA's Hometown Heroes program to encourage youngsters to study math and science, and follow their dreams -- however far into the universe they may lead.

After all, while the space shuttles will be retiring, still on NASA's agenda are long flights, either on the Russian Soyuz or U.S. Orion capsule (scheduled for completion in 2015), and then, once more, missions to the moon.

Virts hopes to pilot again -- astronauts average three flights into space, he said. Still, he may not get another chance "to boldly go where no man has gone before," as he did in a 2005 appearance on "Star Trek: Enterprise."

While the notion of being dependent on Russian space technology may make some uncomfortable, Virts is not among them.

"At our level, relationships with the cosmonauts are friendly, fine," said Virts, who has learned to speak Russian just as his counterparts speak English.

"That's the big success story of the space station -- working together with those from Russia, Japan, Europe, Canada.

"After all, it is the International Space Station."

This story incorrectly identified the mother of astronaut Terry Virts when it was initially published online.

---

user comments (2)

user says...

It is very gratifying to see your child fulfill their dream. NASA's Hometown Hero Program is great and hopefully provided an incentive to all kids and adults to follow their dream no matter what that may be. This story demonstrates with self-discipline, dedicated teachers, encouragement of family and friends, and an aptitude to pursue your career your goals in life can be met. Evelyn

Posted 5:59 PM, 01.01.09

• Permalink

user eng781 says...

I am very proud of my nephew Terry. He has always been focused and has worked very hard to fulfill his dream. He is one person that has done it on his own. He did not know anyone to help him with being nominated to the Air Force Academy - he did it on his own merits and then grew from there. He had a plan and stuck to it. Our family is so proud of him. Terry is also a good person with a huge heart. He mentors young adults from church as well as being involved with sports programs for the young ones. He never stops caring about people and is a good family man. Way to go Terry!!! By the way Terry's mother's name is Evelyn. Aunt Helen

Posted 8:36 AM, 01.02.09

• Permalink