(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Take an exhilarating journey through the history of American women astronauts during a virtual author discussion on Thursday, April 2, 2026 presented by Valerie Neal, emerita curator from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space museum, expert on human spaceflight, and author of On a Mission: The Smithsonian History of US Women Astronauts. The event begins at 2:00pm.
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 space. On a Mission 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 have faced, and their distinctive stories. Collectively, they have 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 exploration efforts.
Valerie Neal has collected more than 1,500 artifacts of the Space Shuttle era, curated three exhibitions and eight documentaries, published books and articles, lectured internationally, and has given interviews for American and international media. Before joining the Smithsonian, Valerie Neal was a writer and editor for some 25 NASA publications. She has also taught American Studies and writing courses at multiple universities
Registration is required for this free program. To register, visit tinyurl.com/NealAuthorTalk, call 732-349-6200, or stop by your local OCL branch.
On a Mission contains 50 black-and-white photos to complement the historical account. It is available for free to Ocean County Library cardholders. Visit tinyurl.com/NealMissionOCL, or call or visit your local OCL branch to request a copy today.
