Synopsis
Joan Higginbotham is an African-American woman. She is an accomplished engineer and a former NASA astronaut. She’s currently a businesswoman and a corporate leader.
Introduction
Joan Higginbotham is an accomplished engineer and former NASA astronaut. She has a long career span as an engineer; Joan began her career at NASA in 1987 as an aerospace technologist at the Kennedy Space Centre (KSC), Florida, where she actively participated in 53 space shuttle launches during her tenure there.
Prior to her success in becoming an astronaut, Joan had some failures. After launching shuttles into space for the first nine years, she applied to be an astronaut but failed on her first attempt. She got more education and reapplied; Joan was successful the second time.
Joan Higginbotham is the third African American woman to travel to space, she flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-116 in 2006, conducted three spacewalks, and helped to install and activate the P5 truss. Higginbotham said that since the shuttle and space station travel at 17,500 miles an hour, they could orbit the world every 90 minutes and witness one sunrise and one sunset.
Joan is a two-time Florida Tech graduate, earning a Master of Science Degree in Management in 1992 and a Master of Science Degree in Space Systems in 1996. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and an honorary doctorate in humanities from the University of New Orleans.
Joan Higginbotham was born on August 3, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois. She is married to James E. Mitchell, Jr. They are known as a prominent power couple in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they both reside.
1. Who is Joan Higginbotham?
Joan Higginbotham is the third African American woman to travel into space, with a distinguished 20-year career with NASA. She is retired now, but her journey to space and her works speak of her success and inspiring trip to space as an astronaut.
Higginbotham graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Chicago, Illinois, in 1982; received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1987; a Masters of Management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1992; and a Masters in Space Systems from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1996.
Joan began her career in 1987, weeks after getting her Bachelor of Science degree. She began her career as a payload electrical engineer in the Electrical and Telecommunications Systems Division at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. After six months, Higginbotham became the lead for the Orbiter Experiments (OEX) on OV-102, the Space Shuttle Columbia. She served as Executive Staff Assistant, backup orbiter project engineer, and lead project engineer for OV-102, Space Shuttle Columbia. Higginbotham participated in 53 space shuttle launches during her nine years at Kennedy Space Centre.
After a span of nine years at Kennedy Space Centre, Higginbotham was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996. She performed technical duties at Johnson Space Centre, testing ISS modules and logging over 308 hours in space.
Her career with NASA reached its pinnacle in 2006 when she embarked on the STS-116 mission, making her the third African American woman to travel to space aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. After a successful mission, Higginbotham was assigned to the STS-126 crew in September 2008, but resigned in November 2007 to pursue a private sector career.
She was a former open innovation director at Collins Aerospace, managed relationships with governmental agencies and human space exploration companies, and was also the director of corporate social responsibility. Prior to her time at Collins Aerospace, Joan held multiple director positions at Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
In April 2022, Higginbotham launched her own aerospace consulting firm, Joan Higginbotham Ad Astra LLC.
2. What makes Joan Higginbotham special?
Joan Higginbotham is particularly notable for her remarkable career success as an electrical engineer at NASA as well as an astronaut. This has made her a role model for people interested in STEM fields and space exploration.
Higginbotham has been instrumental in configuring the robotic arm for the International Space Station and preparing space shuttles in her field of expertise. She is a remarkable astronaut and brilliant electrical engineer, making her the third African American woman to fly into space.
Joan has overcome barriers for women and minorities in the aerospace engineering field. And as a black woman, she has carved out opportunities for ladies of colour, serving as a role model to them.
3. What Joan Higginbotham care about?
Joan’s success in her career fields has proven that she cares about development and education. Prior to her success in her second attempt at becoming an astronaut, Joan got more education.
Joan Higginbotham said, “I was prepared for wonderful opportunities that were presented to me, and with my education, a lot of that was attributed to what I learned at Florida Tech.” She further said her success in career (as an engineer, astronaut, and businesswoman) was because she got the skill set in both engineering, which gave her the ability to do critical thinking, and then she got the business aspect from her management degree.
With the steps she’s taken in life and her history so far, her care for education has helped her develop and build herself, ready to welcome any opportunities that come her way.
4. What are Joan Higginbotham’s greatest deeds?
Joan has accomplished a great feat by becoming the third African American woman to travel to space, paving the way for future generations of minority women and women working in space exploration. She is widely recognized for her achievements and has won numerous awards and honours. In recognition of her achievements, Joan has been honoured by President George W.
Bush at the 81st White House Black History Month Celebration and also at the Commendation of Merit for Service to the Department of Defence Missions. In 2007, Joan received the Adler Planetarium Women in Space Science Award and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. She was also offered an honorary doctorate in aerospace science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, her alma mater, and an honorary doctorate in humanities from the University of New Orleans.
Aside from the numerous awards and honors Joan has earned, her leading voice in promoting STEM education and diversity in STEM fields has provided training, coaching, and consultation to anyone pursuing careers in these areas since her retirement from NASA.
5. What Joan Higginbotham faced as challenges?
Higginbotham, as a woman and a lady of color, might have faced challenges in breaking stereotypes and racial barriers. The engineering field is male-dominated, so overcoming gender would have been a great challenge, as she could have been underestimated due to her gender.
Also, there weren’t a lot of opportunities for women of colour during her career kick-up time; questions and doubts would have risen a lot due to potential bias. Joan must have worked extra hard to prove her abilities.
Aside from gender and racial bias, the rigorous training of an astronaut can be physically and mentally demanding. To be ready for the rigours of spaceflight, Joan had to push herself to her limits.
6. What keeps Joan Higginbotham motivated?
Joan Higginbotham embodies a lifelong passion for science and exploration. As a woman in engineering, her inner drive to break barriers and make a positive impact comes from a well of motivation derived from her passion for these fields.
Her desire to impact others through her dedication to STEM education through her consulting firm and her work with organizations like the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation highlight her passion to motivate others.
7. Why is Joan Higginbotham such a role model?
Joan’s inspirational perseverance in overcoming challenges such as being a woman in engineering and facing initial rejection from the astronaut program exemplifies the power of hard work and dedication.
Being the third African American woman to travel to space also speaks of her hard work, inspiring many, including women, especially women of colour.
Besides all that, her work with organizations like the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation works to inspire future generations. Another example is Higginbotham’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM disciplines, especially for women and minorities, which is noteworthy.
8. What is Joan Higginbotham currently working on?
After Joan’s retirement from NASA, she launched her own aerospace consulting firm, Joan Higginbotham Ad Astra LLC, in 2022. The consulting firm offers services in corporate leadership, diversity and inclusion, and aerospace education. It works with organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions to provide training, coaching, and consulting on topics such as diversity and inclusion, STEM education, and leadership development. She is constantly working to promote greater diversity in STEM fields and inspire more women and minorities to pursue careers in these areas.
9. What could slow Joan Higginbotham down?
Starting a new firm after retiring might come with some challenges, since the aerospace sector can be cyclical, with periods of boom and recession. Changes in the industry could impact the need for Joan Higginbotham Ad Astra LLC’s consulting services.
Higginbotham’s attempts for greater diversity and inclusion in STEM fields could be hindered by some people’s resistance to change and reluctance to welcome the demand.
10. What can you learn from Joan Higginbotham?
Joan Higginbotham emphasizes the importance of perseverance, hard work, and the potential of STEM fields. She served as a role model for young people, demonstrating the power of lifelong learning and skill development.
Here are some things we can learn from her life and career:
- Diversity is strength: Seek out diverse perspectives and challenge yourself to learn from people with different backgrounds.
- Collaborate with others: Recognize the power of teamwork and collaboration to achieve greater impact and make positive change.
- Embrace challenges: Rather than shying away from them, accept them and see them as opportunities to grow and learn.
- Embrace your uniqueness: Bring your real self to your work and embrace the unique perspective you offer.
- Don’t let barriers stop you: If you are passionate about something, go for it despite all the difficulties or obstacles.
- Set ambitious goals: Don’t be afraid to aim high and pursue ambitious goals, even though they seem out of reach.
- Make a positive impact: Use your skills and talents to make a positive impact on your community and the world around you.
- Be a lifelong learner: Never stop learning and broadening your knowledge base, both personally and professionally.
- Be an advocate: Use your platform and expertise to champion the causes that matter to you, such as diversity and inclusion.
- Be resilient: When faced with setbacks, find the strength to recover and keep on towards your goals.
- Be persistent: Keep moving forward even if progress seems uncertain or delayed.
- Be a role model: Use your experiences and successes to inspire and encourage others, especially young people, to pursue their own dreams.
Pro Tips
Here are some pro tips inspired by Joan Higginbotham’s journey:
- Speak up: Don’t be afraid to raise your voice and advocate for yourself and your ideas, even if they challenge the status quo.
- Stay current: Maintaining leadership in your profession requires constant learning and keeping up with new developments in your sector.
- Take risks: Be willing to take calculated risks and step outside your comfort zone, as this can lead to new opportunities and personal growth.
Summary
Joan Higginbotham is a trailblazing engineer, and a retired astronaut. She has made an impact, being the third African American woman to travel to space.
Higginbotham has had 20 years of active service with NASA and has logged more than 308 hours in space.
Although retired, Joan is still making an impact with her consulting firm, Joan Higginbotham Ad Astra LLC.
