Joan Higginbotham

At-a-Glance

Former NASA astronaut, flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-116 as a mission specialist.
Third African American woman to go into space.
President of Joan Higginbotham Ad Astra, LLC, an aerospace consulting firm.
Began her career as a Payload Electrical Engineer at the Kennedy Space Center.
Holds a Master of Science in Space Systems and a Master of Science in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Serves as an experienced Corporate Director with a background in aviation, aerospace, retail, and oil industries.

Biography

Joan Elizabeth Higginbotham is an electrical engineer and a former NASA astronaut. She flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-116 as a mission specialist, becoming the third African American woman to go into space. Higginbotham holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Master of Science degrees in Management Science and Space Systems from the Florida Institute of Technology.