James Hansen, author of the bestselling “First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong,” visits the Museum of Flight for a public reception, lecture and book signing at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29.

Hansen was also a co-producer and primary consultant on the “First Man” feature film.

“Neil thought that as long as we followed the blueprint that Jim provided, he was comfortable with us making this film,” said “First Man” producer Wyck Godfrey.

The museum event will give a rare opportunity to meet and converse with the man Armstrong personally chose to write his life story.

Hansen is a professor emeritus of history at Auburn University. A former historian for NASA, he is the author of 12 books on the history of aerospace and a two-time nominee for the Pulitzer Prize in History. His 1995 book, “Spaceflight Revolution,” was nominated for the Pulitzer by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the only time NASA ever nominated a book for the prize.

Based on more than 50 hours of interviews with the intensely private Armstrong, who also gave Hansen exclusive access to private documents and family sources, this “magnificent panorama of the second half of the American twentieth century” (“Publishers Weekly,” starred review) is an unparalleled biography of an American icon.

Tickets are $20 for general admission.

The Museum of Flight is at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158, off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field, halfway between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport.

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For general museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit museumofflight.org.