Background
Higginbotham, Joan E. was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Higginbotham, Joan E. was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Southern Illinois University, 1987. Master in Management, Florida Institute of Technology, 1992. Master in Space Systems, Florida Institute of Technology, 1996.
Payload electrical engineer division ele. and telecommunications system National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 1987, lead orbiter experiments space shuttle Columbia, 1987, executive staff assistant to director shuttle operations and management, backup orbiter project engineer space shuttle Atlantis, lead orbiter project engineer space shuttle Columbia. Astronaut, mission specialist National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, since 1996. Assigned technical duties in Payloads & Habitability branch, Shuttle Avionics & Integration Laboratory (SAIL), Kennedy Space Center Operations Support Branch.
Worked in the astronaut office CAPCOM branch. Assigned to robotics branch. Assigned as lead for the International Space Station Systems Crew Interfaces Section.
Crew member to operate the Space Station Remote Manipulator System STS-116 Mission (Discovery), 2006.
Member of Gulf Coast Apollo Chapter Links, Inc., Bronze Eagles, Delta Sigma Theta.