Book Talk & Signing: The Smithsonian History of U.S. Women Astronauts

Book Synopsis:

The definitive history of all 61 American women astronauts (so far).

Sally Ride became a household name as the first American woman in space, but scores of equally impressive women have also left their mark. On a Mission: The Smithsonian History of US 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.

Dr. Valerie Neal, emerita curator in the Department of Space History at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, offers a culturally insightful history of the experiences of women astronauts, the challenges they’ve faced, and their distinctive stories. Collectively, they’ve completed more than 100 space shuttle missions and more than 30 long-duration stays on the International Space Station and Russian Space Station Mir, and they continue to prove themselves in present-day space exploration efforts.

The book includes 50 black-and-white photographs to complement the historical account. With its sweeping look from the first women astronauts to Christina Hammock Koch, assigned to the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon, there is no comparably thorough book on America’s women astronauts. On a Mission is an inspiring tribute to unsung women’s history.

About the Author:

• Valerie spent 30 years as a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, overseeing major human spaceflight collections from the Space Shuttle and International Space Station eras, including the orbiter Discovery.
• Her work helped preserve some of the nation’s most significant space artifacts and astronaut stories, from Enterprise, Spacelab and SpaceShipOne to personal effects from pioneering astronauts including Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan.
• A leading historian of human spaceflight, Neal has authored several books and previously spent a decade producing NASA publications and supporting Space Shuttle missions.
• Learn more at her National Air and Space Museum bio and website.

Timeline of Events:

• Doors open (5:30 p.m.)
• Presentation and Q&A (6:00 – 7:00 p.m.)
• Book Signing (7:00 – 7:30 p.m.)

About the Speaker:

• Astronaut Dr. Megan McArthur spent 25 years with NASA, flying two space missions and logging 212 days in space, including nearly 200 days aboard the International Space Station as part of SpaceX Crew-2 and Expeditions 65/66.
• In 2009, McArthur flew aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis on STS-125, the final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, where she operated the robotic arm that captured Hubble and supported astronauts during five days of spacewalks.
• McArthur made history in 2021 as the first woman to pilot a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, serving as pilot of Endeavour on NASA’s Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station.
• Before becoming an astronaut, McArthur earned a Ph.D. in oceanography and conducted research at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. During her NASA career, she also served as a CAPCOM and Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office.
• Learn more at her NASA Bio

Timeline of Events:

• Doors open (5:30 p.m.)
• Presentation and Q&A (6:00 – 7:00 p.m.)
• Book Signing (7:00 – 7:30 p.m.)