American Women Astronauts Subject of Feb. 28 Author Book Talk

SEATTLE, Feb. 17, 2026—On Feb. 28, a book talk with author Valerie Neal looks at American women in space. Neal’s new book, On a Mission: The Smithsonian History of U.S. Women Astronauts illuminates the epic journeys of women who made space for themselves in a male-dominated field. Spanning 45 years, the book offers a culturally insightful look at the experiences of 61 women astronauts, the challenges they've faced and their distinctive stories. A book signing will follow the 2 p.m. talk. The program is free for Museum Members and with Museum admission.

Author Valerie Neal

Dr. Valerie Neal is a curator emerita in the Department of Space History at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. She joined the Museum as a curator in 1989 and was responsible for human spaceflight artifact collections from the Space Shuttle era and International Space Station, most prominently the orbiter Discovery.

Image: Astronauts Chrstina Koch (left) and Jessica Meir prepare for their first spacewalk together inside the U.S. Quest airlock. 

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Media Contact:

Ted Huetter/Senior Public Relations Manager
T: 206.768.7105 C: 206.455.5360 Email: thuetter@museumofflight.org