Encyclopedia Astronautica
Higginbotham

Higginbotham
Credit: www.spacefacts.de - www.spacefacts.de

Educated Southern Illinois; FIT.

NAME: Joan E. Higginbotham

NASA Astronaut Candidate (Mission Specialist)

PERSONAL DATA:

Born August 3, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois. She enjoys body building (weightlifting), cycling, music, motivational speaking.

EDUCATION:

Graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Chicago, Illinois, in 1982; received a bachelor of science degree electrical engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, in 1987, and masters of management and space systems from Florida Institute of Technology in 1992 and 1996, respectively.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Bronze Eagles.

AWARDS:

NASA Exceptional Service Medal; Keys to the Cities of Cocoa and Rockledge, Florida; Group Achievement Award for STS-26 Return to Flight; Kennedy Space Center Public Affairs Certificate of Appreciation for Service; Commendation of Merit for Service to the Department of Defense (DOD) Missions; Presidential Sports Award in bicycling and weight training; Outstanding Woman of the Year Award, Outstanding Performance 1992, 1993, 1995.

NASA EXPERIENCE:

Joan Higginbotham began her career in 1987 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, as a Payload Electrical Engineer in the Electrical and Telecommunications Systems Division. Within six months she became the lead for the Orbiter Experiments (OEX) on OV-102, the Space Shuttle Columbia. Later she worked on the Shuttle payload bay reconfiguration for all Shuttle missions. She was also tasked by KSC management to undertake several special assignments where she served as the Executive Staff Assistant to the Director of Shuttle Operations and Management, led a team of engineers in performing critical analysis for the Space Shuttle flow in support of a simulation model tool, and was involved working on an interactive display to show detailed Shuttle processing procedures at Spaceport USA. Higginbotham was promoted to Lead Orbiter Project Engineer for OV-102 after two years as an orbiter project engineer for OV-104, Space Shuttle Atlantis. She held the technical lead government engineering position in the firing room where she supported and managed the integration of vehicle testing and troubleshooting.

Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996 Joan Higginbotham reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996 to begin two years of training and evaluation. Successful completion of initial training will qualify her for various technical assignments leading to selection as a mission specialist on a Space Shuttle flight crew.

Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois.
Status: Inactive.


Born: 1964.08.03.
Spaceflights: 1 .
Total time in space: 12.86 days.

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• STS-116 Crew: Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Patrick, Fuglesang, Higginbotham. First Swedish astronaut. Most demanding ISS assembly mission to date. Completed installation of the P5 truss, retracted the recalcitrant port P6 solar array wing, and activated the truss electrical and cooling system. More...

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• NASA Astronaut Biographies, Johnson Space Center, NASA, 1995-present. Web Address when accessed: here.

• NASA Astronaut Training Group 16 selected. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Brown, David; Burbank; Cagle; Caldeiro; Camarda; Carey; Clark; Fincke; Forrester; Frick; Guidoni; Herrington; Higginbotham; Hobaugh; Kelly; Kelly, Mark; Kelly, Scott; Lockhart; Loria; Magnus; Massimino; Mastracchio; McCool; Morin; Nowak; Pettit; Phillips. The group was selected to provide pilot, engineer, and scientist astronauts for space shuttle flights.. Qualifications: Pilots: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. Advanced degree desirable. At least 1,000 flight-hours of pilot-in-command time. Flight test experience desirable. Excellent health. Vision minimum 20/50 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 vision; maximum sitting blood pressure 140/90. Height between 163 and 193 cm.

  Mission Specialists: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics and minimum three years of related experience or an advanced degree. Vision minimum 20/150 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20. Maximum sitting blood pressure of 140/90. Height between 150 and 193 cm.. 10 pilots and 25 mission specialists selected from over 2,400 applicants. 9 additional international astronauts.

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 01 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: The Space Shuttle Discovery rocketed into a dark Florida sky at 7:47 p.m. CST today, the third shuttle launch in five months, but the first night launch in more than four years.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 03 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: The Space Shuttle Discovery crew spent much of its first full day in space using the shuttle�s robotic arm and an extension boom-mounted sensor system to inspect heat shielding on Discovery's wing leading edges and nose.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams. Return Crew: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Reiter. Payload: Discovery F32 / P5. Mass: 120,420 kg (265,480 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Williams; Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Reiter. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: Boeing. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-116; ISS EO-14; ISS Astrolab. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 12.86 days. Decay Date: 2006-12-10 . USAF Sat Cat: 29647 . COSPAR: 2006-055A. Apogee: 358 km (222 mi). Perigee: 326 km (202 mi). Inclination: 51.6000 deg. Period: 91.40 min. The mission used solid rocket booster pair RSRM-95 and external tank ET-123. At SSME burnout Discovery was in a 58 km x 220 km x 51.6 deg preliminary burn. The OMS-2 burn at 02:25 GMT placed the shuttle in a stable 225 x 250 km orbit from which rendezvous maneuvers began. Discovery docked with the ISS at 22:12 GMT on December 11. In the most demanding ISS assembly mission ever, the crew would require an additional spacewalk to complete installation of the P5 truss, retraction of the recalcitrant port P6 solar array wing, and activation of the truss electrical and cooling system. Sunita Williams rode the shuttle to the station, and remained behind with the EO-14 crew; ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter, already aboard the station, was returned to earth. Due to weather problems a landing at White Sands was considered; but in the end Discovery landed safely at Kennedy Space Center, after which it was to enter a year-long overhaul cycle.

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 05 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: Astronauts on the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station were united today, and the joint crew immediately began the complex work associated with installing a new truss section and rewiring the station�s power grid.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 04 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: The Space Shuttle Discovery continues its pursuit of the International Space Station, a chase that should culminate in the docking of the two spacecraft at 4:05 p.m. CST today.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 06 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: The first spacewalk by Discovery's crew members, an excursion that will install a new, two-ton segment on the port side of the International Space Station's girder-like truss, will highlight today's work on mission STS-116.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: Retracting a solar array wing that has been extended in space for six years will highlight the activities aboard the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Discovery today.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 10 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1. Summary: The second spacewalk for Discovery's crew members is scheduled for this afternoon. During the spacewalk, set to start about 2:12 p.m. CST, Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang will begin to rewire the station�s power system. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 11 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116. Summary: Two spacewalking electricians completed half of STS-116�s rewiring today, and when flight controllers threw the switch, the lights inside the International Space Station turned on again without a hitch.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 12 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: With half the International Space Station�s electrical system rewired, the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery gets half a day off today before they finish the job during a third spacewalk set for Saturday.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 13 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: The crews of Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station tried again to refold an accordion-like solar array with help from engineers and flight controllers on the ground, but none of the techniques succeeded in clearing the jam.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 14 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: The third spacewalk of Discovery�s mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to begin at 1:37 p.m. CST to complete the rewiring of the orbiting laboratory�s power system.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 16 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: Astronauts will spend much of today getting ready for a fourth spacewalk during Discovery�s mission to the International Space Station.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 17 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116. Flight controllers today put the finishing touches on plans for the fourth spacewalk recently added to the mission. On board the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station astronauts finished transferring the bulk of supplies between the two spacecraft. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 18 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Oefelein; Curbeam; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116. Summary: Discovery and International Space Station crew members will conduct their fourth spacewalk of the week today, an excursion aimed at freeing a snagged, partially retracted station solar array so it will fully fold properly.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 19 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Oefelein; Curbeam; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116. Summary: Space Shuttle Discovery Astronauts Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang guided the port overhead solar array wing neatly inside its blanket box during a 6-hour, 38-minute spacewalk.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 20 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: Space Shuttle Discovery astronauts will leave the orbiting laboratory today after four successful spacewalks, delivery and installation of a new segment of the International Space Station�s main truss and reconfiguring the station�s power system.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 21 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: Crews aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station bid one another farewell at 4:10 p.m. CST today, wrapping up eight days of docked operations.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 23 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: Inspection of Discovery�s heat shield was conducted today as the seven crewmembers began the task of preparing their ship for their high-speed return to Earth on Friday.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 22 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: Discovery crew members will make a final check of the shuttle�s heat shields today, using a sensor-equipped 50-foot extension of the shuttle�s robotic arm.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 24 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: Discovery�s astronauts will spend today preparing to return to Earth. They will test flight control surfaces, steering jets and other entry and landing systems while they stow equipment in Discovery�s cabin.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 25 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1. Summary: Discovery�s astronauts completed preparations for a planned return to Earth on Friday and received word from Mission Control that their final inspection showed the shuttle�s heat shield is in good shape.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 26 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Williams; Reiter; Tyurin; Lopez-Alegria. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS EO-15-1; ISS Astrolab. Summary: Discovery�s wakeup call said it all. The song was "Home for the Holidays," sung by Perry Como for the crew, requested by the Mission Control Center.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-116 MCC Status Report 27 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Reiter. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-14; STS-116; ISS Astrolab. Summary: The crew of Space Shuttle Discovery made it home in time for Christmas, gliding to a perfect landing as the sun set over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.. Additional Details: here....

• Landing of STS-116 - . Return Crew: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Reiter. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Polansky; Oefelein; Curbeam; Patrick; Fuglesang; Higginbotham; Reiter. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-116; ISS Astrolab.