The Daily Stoic Spending 213 Days In Space Does THIS To You | Astronaut Terry Virts (PT. 1)
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Sep 3, 2025 
In this engaging conversation, former NASA astronaut Terry Virts shares his incredible journey as an F-16 fighter pilot and the challenges of becoming an astronaut. He dives into the intense selection process and explains why thrill-seekers don’t cut it in space. Terry offers insights on emotional control essential for high-stress missions and reflects on the 'overview effect'—the transformative experience of seeing Earth from space. He also discusses ethical leadership and the importance of character in today’s society.
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Training Converts Fear Into Authority
- Training replaces unfamiliarity with authority, reducing panic in emergencies.
- Repeated graded exposure builds tolerance for stress and steadier judgment under pressure.
Three Steps For Any Emergency
- In crisis follow three steps: maintain control, analyze the situation, then act appropriately.
- Delay reflexive actions until you've stabilized and evaluated the problem.
Calm Humor During An In-Flight Emergency
- During an engine-issue return over Iraq Virts kept his wingman calm with jokes and framed the event as training.
- Humor and prior simulator training helped them land despite a failing engine.
