Laurel van der Wal’s contributions to the newly burgeoning field of bioastronautics, specifically researching biological and medical aspects of human space flight, proved critical to the success of the human space program. Instrumental to that was a study she conducted on the physiological effects of space flight on mice in US rockets, called Project MIA. Additionally, she was involved in escape and recovery systems and human spacecraft design. Throughout her career, she pushed the boundaries and expectations of women in the workplace while broadening the understanding of mammalian tolerance to weightless conditions and the rigors of launch and reentry. Van der Wal’s commitment to the space program lasted throughout her career. She believed that space exploration was the greatest adventure of man’s existence. She carried that commitment to safety into her work with the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners from 1961 to 1967 and the RAND Corporation during the 1970s, where she designed a new transportation system for the state of California. Van der Wal was honored by the Society of Women Engineers as the 1961 Achievement Award recipient.