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Joan
Higginbotham
by Zachary
Joan Higginbotham was born in 1964, in Illinois. She
liked to workout. Joan Higginbotham had no children and was divorced.
She graduated from Wittney M. Young Magnet High School and she received
a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1987 and earned a Masters Degree
in Space Systems in Florida. Joan Higginbotham was selected as an astronaut
candidate by NASA in 1996. She won keys to the cities of Rockledge
and Cocoa. Joan Higginbotham served as a backup project engineer.
Joan Higginbotham won many honors which included: the
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; National Technical
Association’s 50 Distinguished Scientists and Engineers; Florida Institute
of Technology’s Distinguished Alumni for 1997; Southern Illinois University’s
Distinguished Alumni; Essence Magazine’s Top 50 Women of 2004.
In less than half a year Joan Higginbotham became leader
of the orbiter experiments. She was assigned to the robotics branch.
She participated in fifty-three space shuttle missions. Joan Higginbotham
lead a crew of engineers and reported to the Johnson Space Center in 1996.
Joan Higginbotham's last assignment was to be the lead of the International
Space Station Systems. She worked on the shuttle payload bay reconfiguration
for every shuttle mission and conducted electrical compatability tests
for all pay loads flown aboard the shuttle. She enjoys listening to music.
Joan Higginbotham was asked by Kennedey Space Center to undertake several
special assignments when she served as the Exclusive staff assistaint to
the directer of shuttle operations. Joan Higginbotham worked in the Astronaut
office CAPCOM.
Credits:
http://www.storycove.com/anansi_and_the_pot_of_beans
Bronze Eeagles.Joan Higgin
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/higginbo.html
http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/mwade/astros/higotham.htm
Pictures:
http://www.raahistory.com/astro/higginbotham.htm
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/higginbo.html
http://www.spacefacts.de/more/astronauts/page/higginbotham_joan.htm