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Online Author Talk With Smithsonian Curator Valerie Neal

The History of U.S. Women Astronauts

Join us online for a journey through the history of U.S. women astronauts with Valerie Neal, emerita curator from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and an expert on human spaceflight. Adults. Register to get a link. A recording will also be available for later viewing.

Register and submit questions for the author.

Join us online for an exhilarating journey through the history of U.S. women astronauts with Valerie Neal, emerita curator from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and expert on human spaceflight.

Sally Ride became a household name as the first American woman in space, but scores of equally impressive women have also made their mark. "On a Mission: The Smithsonian History of U.S. Women Astronauts" spans 45 years and 61 astronauts to share the epic journeys of women who made space for themselves in a male-dominated field.

Valerie Neal interviewed many of these astronauts to bring their experiences to life, offering a culturally insightful history of their achievements and challenges. Collectively, these women have completed more than 100 space shuttle missions and over 30 long-duration stays on the International Space Station and Russian Space Station Mir. They continue to contribute to present-day space exploration efforts.

"On a Mission" includes 50 black-and-white photographs to complement the historical account. With its sweeping look from the first women astronauts to Christina Hammock Koch, currently training for NASA’s Artemis II mission, this book is an inspiring and thorough tribute to unsung women's history.

Register now to take part in this inspirational discussion!

Adults. Register to receive a link for viewing this online event.

About the Author:

Valerie Neal is a space historian and curator emerita at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Her specialty is human spaceflight, space technology and space science in the space shuttle era and beyond. At the Museum, she collected more than 1500 artifacts of the shuttle era, curated three exhibitions and eight documentary programs for the Smithsonian Channel, published books and articles growing from her research, lectured in the U.S. and abroad and gave many interviews for U.S. and international media.

Before joining the Museum, Neal was a writer and editor for numerous NASA publications. She participated in underwater astronaut training in Alabama and mission support in Houston for four space shuttle missions. She has taught American studies and writing courses at multiple universities. She holds Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in American studies and a B.A. degree in English and history.

This event is part of DBRL's Online Author Series, supported by David Lile honorarium funds. A recording will also be available for later viewing on the author series site.

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