Astronaut Terry Virts shares space experiences with local audience

The Stark County District Library’s Season 11 “Speaking of Books” author series continued in March with an out-of-this-world evening for all ages, featuring NASA astronaut Terry Virts. The astronaut and best-selling author appeared March 19 at the First Christian Church auditorium.

An estimated 1,300 people attended, including seniors, teens and families with young children. Lines stretched out the doors and down the sidewalk at times as attendees gathered to hear Virts speak about space and his career.

Virts shared many photos and videos he captured while in space, including images of countries and cities around the globe. He noted that it takes about 90 minutes to orbit the Earth.

Before becoming an author, Col. Terry Virts served in the U.S. Air Force as a fighter pilot and test pilot, and later as a NASA astronaut on two spaceflights. He has written three books, including “The Astronaut’s Guide to Leaving the Planet” and “How to Astronaut: An Insider’s Guide to Leaving Planet Earth,” which detail his more than seven months in space.

He is also known for taking more than 319,000 photographs from space — more than any other astronaut — which inspired his book “A View From Above: An Astronaut Photographs the World,” as well as the luxury edition “Apollo: To the Moon and Back.”

“The Astronaut’s Guide to Leaving the Planet” offers a practical and inspiring look at becoming an astronaut and life in space. While written for younger readers, it appeals to space enthusiasts of all ages. “How to Astronaut” provides a behind-the-scenes look at astronaut training, procedures and daily life in space.

During his presentation, Virts showed images of how astronauts exercise and sleep aboard spacecraft, explaining that sleep often occurs in upright compartments. He also shared that it can take eight or nine hours to put on a spacesuit.

“Astronauts are regular people; we have kids, houses, wives and divorces,” Virts said. “My life lesson to you is that you don’t let someone tell you no. If you do that, you will never get what you want out of life.”

Virts answered audience questions, including one about how astronauts use the restroom in space. “There is a special way that we have to do that and basically it requires you to have really good aim,” he said.

Special tickets were available for a meet-and-greet following the presentation. Virts also shared that he enjoyed his visit to the area, including a trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Throughout the evening, his enthusiasm and storytelling kept the audience engaged.

Reflecting on his time in orbit, Virts offered a final observation: “Earth really is a beautiful planet.”