When astronaut Colonel Nicole Mann set off for a 157-day mission in the fall of 2022 to the International Space Station, her 10-year-old son told her he would miss her but that he knew that she had to go for the benefit of humanity. Indeed, while at the station, Mann and the rest of the mission’s crew contributed to hundreds of experiments to improve life on Earth. The astronaut, who was born and raised in Petaluma and is the first Native American woman to travel to space, will talk about her astral experiences at Women in Conversation: Nicole Mann, NASA Astronaut. The event will be held on September 20 at 6 p.m. at the Green Music Center in Rohnert Park. It’s free, but tickets are required. Prior to the event, 3–6 p.m., there will be exhibitor booths, daytime talks, and food trucks. For more information and to reserve tickets, go to gmc.sonoma.edu/wic.