On a Mission

The definitive history of all 61 American women astronauts that's perfect for fans of The Six eager for more

Sally Ride became a household name as the first American woman in space, but a wealth of equally impressive women have come after her. On a Mission: The Smithsonian History of US Women Astronauts spans 45 years and 61 astronauts to share the triumphant histories of women who made space for themselves in a male-dominated field.

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 flown on every operational spacecraft, completed more than 100 space shuttle missions and more than 20 long-duration stays on the International Space Station and Russian Space Station Mir, and continue to prove themselves in present-day space exploration efforts.

The book includes 30 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 comparable space history book. On a Mission is an inspiring tribute to unsung women's history.