US Women Astronauts: Three Generations and Counting ft. Valerie Neal

Name: US Women Astronauts: Three Generations and Counting ft. Valerie Neal
Start: 2026-01-12T19:30:00-07:00
Location: Chautauqua Community House

Schedule

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026 at 07:30 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

Chautauqua Community House | Boulder, CO

Door time: 7:00
Show time: 7:30
Since 1978 when six American women were selected as astronaut candidates, women have become fully integral to the astronaut corps and have held every technical and leadership position. Yet the public is not aware of most of them and their achievements in the US space program. This presentation will introduce the women who have collectively flown more than 100 space shuttle missions, 10 SpaceX flights, and more than 30 space station expeditions, with special attention to those with Colorado ties. Audiences may find inspiration in their different journeys to become astronauts, the challenges they faced, and their resilience and dedication as they took their place in space.
Valerie Neal:
Valerie Neal, Curator Emerita at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, historian, author, developer of exhibits and documentaries, and Boulder resident. Her latest book is On a Mission: The Smithsonian History of US Women Astronauts.