# Event Details

- **Event Name**: On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal
- **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 02 Apr, 2026 at 02:00 pm
- **Event Description**: Join us for an exhilarating journey through the history of US 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 left their mark in space. 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.

Valerie Neal interviewed many of the US women astronauts to bring their experiences to life. She offers a culturally insightful history of their achievements, 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.

Join us in person with the HPL community, as we join the zoom meeting in the Community Room on the BIG screen, or register to Zoom from home to take part in this inspirational discussion! 

Register to zoom from home only: https://libraryc.org/holmespubliclibrary/160830/register

(Zoom from home requires registration; viewing at the library does not.)

About the Author: Valerie Neal is a space historian and Curator Emerita at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. 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 (cable TV), published books and articles growing from her research, lectured in the USA and abroad, and gave many interviews for US and international media. 

Before joining the Museum, she was a writer and editor for some 25 NASA publications on Space Shuttle and Spacelab missions, the Hubble Space Telescope and other Great Observatories, space science, and NASA History. 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. Valerie Neal holds Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in American Studies and a B.A. degree in English and History.

A Library Speakers Consortium and Smithsonian Institution Collaboration
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/halifax/on-a-mission-the-history-of-us-women-astronauts-with-smithsonian-curator-emerita-valerie-neal/200029858425036
- **Event Categories**: womens-history-month, art, literary-art, workshops, meetups, exhibitions, food-drinks
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 2

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Halifax
- **state**: MA
- **country**: United States
- **location**: 470 Plymouth St, Halifax, MA, United States, Massachusetts 02338
- **lat**: 41.99077
- **long**: -70.85896
- **full address**: 470 Plymouth St, Halifax, MA, United States, Massachusetts 02338

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/7177ca85cd8b0b773e4e02ae43b66701a8d17d82a8a17a021929948fc6f47ebd-rimg-w1200-h675-dc040101-gmir?v=1775073199

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal being held?
  - **A:** On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal takes place on Thu, 02 Apr, 2026 at 02:00 pm to Thu, 02 Apr, 2026 at 02:00 pm at 470 Plymouth St, Halifax, MA, United States, Massachusetts 02338.
- **Q**: Who is organizing On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal?
  - **A:** On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal is organized by Holmes Public Library.
- **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me?
  - **A:** On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal is ideal for art lovers, trade professionals, collectors, and exhibition enthusiasts exploring the latest in their field. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Halifax, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast.

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