Neal, Valerie
Curator Emerita
Human spaceflight in the Shuttle-International Space Station era; Shuttle-based science, especially Spacelab microgravity research missions; Shuttle-era astronauts, especially women
Positions
- Chair, Space History Department, National Air & Space Museum - 2019
Geographic Focus
- USA Country
Background And Education
Education And Training
- B.A. in English & History, Texas Christian University
- M.A. in American Studies, University of Southern California
- Ph.D. in American Studies, University of Minnesota
Publications
Selected Publications
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Article
- Go for Orbit, by Rhea Seldon. Quest: The History of Spaceflight Magazine. 23:55. 2016
- Space Shuttle Legacy: How We Did It and What We Learned, by Roger D. Launius, John Krige, and James I. Craig (Eds.). Quest: The History of Spaceflight Magazine. 23:58. 2016
- Lynn Sherr. Sally Ride: America's First Woman in Space. Quest: The History of Spaceflight Magazine. 21:60-61. 2014
- Orbit of Discovery: The All-Ohio Space Shuttle Mission, by Don Thomas, John Glenn, and George Voinovich. Quest: The History of Spaceflight Magazine. 21:59. 2014
- Three Memoirs from Three Space Shuttle Astronauts - Dream Walker, by Bernard A. Harris, Jr.. Quest: The History of Spaceflight Magazine. 21:54-55. 2014
- Spacewalker: My Journey in Space and Faith as NASA's Record-Setting Frequent Flyer by Jerry L Ross. Quest: The History of Spaceflight Magazine. 20:95. 2013
- Dollar$, $ense, and $paceflight: What is the U.S. Space Program Worth? 2010
- My Dream of Stars: From Daughter of Iran to Space Pioneer by Anousheh Ansari. Quest: The History of Spaceflight Magazine. 17:63. 2010
- Disposable Absorption Containment Trunk 2007
- Origami Crane 2007
- Review of Too Far from Home. Quest: The History of Spaceflight Magazine. 14:58-58. 2007
- SAMS Crew Logbook 2007
- Sally Ride's STS-7 Flight Suit 2007
- Skylab Orbital Workshop 2007
- Space Shuttle Concept Model 2007
- SpaceShipOne 2007
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Blog Posting
- Neal, Valerie. 2022. "Stephanie D. Wilson: On Her Way to the Moon?" Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Feb 23, 2022. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/stephanie-wilson-to-the-moon. 2022
- Neal, Valerie. 2018. "John Glenn's Return to Space on Discovery." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Oct 29, 2018. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/john-glenns-return-space-discovery. 2018
- John W. Young, An Astronaut’s Astronaut 2018
- Reflections on Spaceflight and Memory 2018
- Neal, Valerie. 2018. "Reflections on Spaceflight and Memory." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Feb 1, 2018. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/reflections-spaceflight-and-memory. 2018
- Remembering Bruce McCandless II 2018
- Neal, Valerie. 2018. "Remembering Paul Allen, Tech Visionary." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Oct 22, 2018. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/remembering-paul-allen-tech-visionary. 2018
- Neal, Valerie. 2018. "The Spirit of Apollo 8." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Dec 11, 2018. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/spirit-apollo-8. 2018
- Returning to the Final Frontier? 2017
- Returning to the Final Frontier? 2017
- A Surprise Call From Space 2015
- Coming Soon: Discovery 3D! 2015
- "Skylab is Falling!" 2014
- Discovery's First Mission Thirty Years Ago 2014
- America's First Spacewalking Woman: Kathryn D.Sullivan 2014
- Discovery's First Launch: Four Times on the Pad 2014
- Looking Back, Looking Ahead in January 2014 2014
- Orion Test Flight: Back to the Future 2014
- Orion Test Flight: Back to the Future 2014
- Remembering Dale Allan Gardner: Naval Aviator, Astronaut, Businessman 2014
- Remembering Henry Warren "Hank" Hartsfield, Jr., Discovery's First Commander (1933-2014) 2014
- Remembering Steven R. Nagel 2014
- Remembering William Reid "Bill" Pogue: Pilot, Astronaut, Author 2014
- Thanksgiving Day in Space 2014
- Thanksgiving Day in Space 2014
- C. Gordon Fullerton: 1936-2013 2013
- Sally Ride: First U.S. Woman in Space and More 2013
- Alan G. Poindexter: 1961-2012 2012
- Packing for Spaceflight 2012
- Sally Ride (1951-2012) 2012
- Remembering Challenger 25 Years Later 2011
- Space Shuttle: The End of an Era 2011
- A Crash Made Famous on TV 2010
- Shuttle-Era Shopping Spree 2010
- Women’s Place in Space 2010
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Book
-
Chapter
- Neal, Valerie. 2014. "Mechanical Finger Tool from Skylab." In Tools: Extending Our Reach. McCarty, Cara and McQuaid, Matilda, editors. 56–57. New York: Cooper Hewitt Design Museum. 2014
- Neal, Valerie. 2014. "Space Shuttle." In Discoveries in Modern Science: Exploration, Invention, Technology. Trefil, James, editor. Farmington Hills, Michigan: MacMillan Reference USA, a part of Cengage Learning. 2014
- Neal, Valerie. 2014. "Space Shuttle Discovery." In Milestones of Space: Eleven Iconic Objects from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Neufeld, Michael J., editor. 140–157. Minneapolis: Zenith Press. 2014
- Neal, Valerie. 2014. "Space Station: Salyut to ISS." In Discoveries in Modern Science: Exploration, Invention, Technology. Trefil, James, editor. Farmington Hills, Michigan: MacMillan Reference USA, a part of Cengage Learning. 2014
- Neal, Valerie. 2013. "Bringing Spaceflight Down to Earth: Astronauts and The IMAX Experience." In Spacefarers: Images of Astronauts and Cosmonauts in the Heroic Era of Spaceflight. Neufeld, Michael J., editor. 149–174. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. 2013
- Astronaut Training. 551-554. 2010
- Challenger Memorial Plaque. 204. 2007
- Columbia Space Shuttle Tiles. 191. 2007
- Enterprise, The First Space Shuttle. 188. 2007
- Astronaut Pamela Melroy's Scrunchie. 244. 2007
- Eileen Collins' STS-93 Clothing. 240. 2007
- Framing the Meanings of Spaceflight in the Shuttle Era. 67-88. 2007
- Guy Bluford's STS-8 Flight Suit. 195. 2007
- Manned Maneuvering Unit. 198. 2007
- Skylab. 241-242. 2007
- Space Shuttle. 261-263. 2007
- Space Shuttle Launch-Entry Suit. 205. 2007
- Space Station Freedom Model. 201. 2007
- Spacelab. 236. 2007
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Conference Paper
- Neal, Valerie. 2013. "Cooperation and the International Space Station: An Historical Perspective." from The Eighth Ilan Ramon Annual International Space Conference. 72–77. Herzlia, Israel: The Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies. 2013
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Review
- Neal, Valerie. 2022. [Book review] "Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me about Our Home Planet and Our Mission to Protect It, by Nicole Stott." Quest, The History of Spaceflight Quarterly, 29, (2), 59. 2022
- Neal, Valerie. 2022. [Book review] "The Sirens of Mars: Searching for Life on Another World, by Sarah Stewart Johnson." Quest, The History of Spaceflight Quarterly, 29, (2), 6162. 2022
- Neal, Valerie. 2021. [Book review] "Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II by Bruce McCandless III." Quest, The History of Spaceflight Quarterly, 28, (4), 66–67. 2021
Contact
Location
- National Air & Space Museum Academic Department
