Meet Astronaut Joan Higginbotham @ Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

NASA selects astronauts from a diverse pool of applicants with a wide variety of backgrounds, from scientists to pilots. From the thousands of applications received, only a few are chosen to be a member of the elite NASA Astronaut Corps. Each day at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, visitors get the rare opportunity to meet a veteran NASA astronaut.

ASTRONAUT BIO:

• Born in Chicago, Illinois
• She holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Space Systems
• Served as a Payload Electrical Engineer at Kennedy Space Center.
• Went on to serve in a number of positions including Lead Orbiter Project Engineer for Columbia.
• She participated in 53 space shuttle launches during her 9nine years at Kennedy Space Center.
• Selected by NASA in 1996.
• Flew on STS-116 in 2006, which added the P-5 Spacer Truss to the International Space Station.