Do you remember the moment when you first aspired to go into space, that ‘aha!’ moment when you knew this was your calling?
Honestly, you might be disappointed! I didn’t grow up dreaming of being an astronaut. I was working at the Kennedy Space Center as Chief of Staff to the Director of Shuttle Engineering. One day he casually said, “You’d make a great astronaut”. I brushed it off, but he kept asking if I’d applied. After the third time, I finally did, just so I could tell him yes!
I never thought anything would come of it. I already thought I had the best job in the world, preparing shuttles for flight and watching launches outside my office. But soon after applying, I got a call for an interview with the 1994 class. Out of 6,000 applicants, 120 were interviewed, and 15 selected. I wasn’t one of them.
That rejection actually lit the spark. I realised I did want it. They told me my master’s degree wasn’t technical enough, so I went back to school, reapplied and was eventually selected. My true ”aha” moment came during that first interview — seeing the process, meeting other candidates and realising maybe this dream could be real.
You still work with the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex today. What’s your role now, and how has it changed since your astronaut career?
In a way, it’s full circle. I didn’t know much about space when I started, I actually wanted to work for IBM. But once I saw a shuttle and a launchpad up close I was hooked.
That’s what happens for visitors, too: they come, their misconceptions are challenged and they leave inspired.
There are quite a few misconceptions, in fact. People think most astronauts don’t actually fly, but in reality almost all do.
And people think the body can’t handle space but it can, with the right training.
But unlike travelling in a plane, space travel has been found to have a few effects on the human body. Some astronauts develop pressure behind the eyes, and vision doesn’t always return to baseline.
Long missions can also cause bone density loss, similar to osteoporosis, and muscle mass may not fully recover. That’s why astronauts exercise two hours a day in space, both cardio and resistance training.
But my favourite misconception: when I say I went to space in 2006, people immediately respond: “Oh, you went to the moon!” In fact, no one’s been to the moon since 1972. Most of our missions were to the International Space Station, which has been orbiting for nearly 25 years.
What does a typical mission and travelling in space look like?
Every minute of the day is scheduled. Each mission has unique goals. On mine, we delivered 6,000 pounds of equipment, rewired the station to support a crew of seven and did a crew transfer.
Think of building the ISS like assembling a Lego set, mission by mission, piece by piece. Later missions focused more on science: growing food without soil, developing purer medicines with protein crystals in microgravity, and studying long-term human health in space. All of this prepares us for future moon and Mars missions.
You never did a spacewalk – why was that?
The suits were designed for taller bodies with longer limbs. At the time, NASA only had medium and large suits, later adding extra-large. Astronauts my size couldn’t do spacewalks. The good news is, they’re designing new suits for lunar missions that will fit 95% of astronauts.
Space travel is so unique; how would you compare it to travelling on Earth?
Honestly, there’s no real comparison. The view is the one thing that stands apart. Looking down from orbit, you see Earth without pollution or borders. It’s breathtaking, humbling and it changes how you see our planet.
In terms of destinations on earth that inspire awe, I’m a beach person. Places like Fiji, the Maldives or Greece are on my list. Looking out at beautiful, calming water is my happy place — and that feeling is the closest I can compare to looking back at Earth from space.
If you could show every person just one thing from space, what would it be?
Two things: first, Earth itself; seeing it whole, fragile, without borders. Second, the international crew dynamic. My shuttle mission was like a mini-United Nations: astronauts of different ethnicities, nationalities and religions, all working together in one tiny spacecraft. It made me think, if we can do it up there, why not on Earth?
What’s your take on humans being able to travel to and live on the Moon or Mars?
The Moon is more realistic in the near term. We’ll be back within a couple of years and eventually build modules there.
Mars is tougher, nine months one-way with current technology. I think moon bases are within five years; Mars may be a decade or more away.
Would I live there? The Moon for a month or two, yes. I’d go back there in a heartbeat if I was asked. I’d love to see the ISS complete with its cupola, which is a 360° dome of windows. I’d go back to the Moon, for sure. Mars? Hard pass!
Let’s talk about food. What did you miss the most, and what was the strangest thing you ate?
I missed fresh fruit terribly. One crew mate peeled an orange on day four and the aroma filled the cabin; it was the best orange of my life. The strangest thing came from a Russian-French dinner aboard the station. I didn’t recognise it and passed! My favourite meal was beef enchiladas, which are very spicy in microgravity.
If you could take one luxury item with you, without weight restrictions, what would it be?
A shower! We had two washcloths a day and a towel. There’s an order that I would normally do things on earth, but in space I had to rethink my routine: wash face and body, put in contacts, then brush my teeth last, spitting into the washcloth and throwing it away. Some crew mates swallowed toothpaste. I wasn’t one of them!
You’ve worked in male-dominated fields your whole career. What was your experience like?
At 22, I was the only woman of colour working on shuttle hardware. I was a bit of a unicorn, and it came with curiosity and scepticism. I had to prove myself constantly, but eventually I earned respect. It wasn’t easy, but it shaped me.
What advice would you give women, especially women of colour, aiming for their dream career?
Three things:
- Say yes to opportunities, even if you don’t feel 100% qualified. That’s how growth happens.
- Find your village: by which I mean mentors and supporters and bring others along as you rise.
- Own your voice. One of the mistakes I made at first was trying to blend in. Don’t blend in or stay silent. Speak up, be visible, and create your own narrative.
How did space change you?
It gave me a renewed sense of humanity and responsibility, toward each other and toward Earth. I became more conscious about the environment, recycling and kindness. Looking at Earth from Space makes you realise how small we are, and how much we need to protect our home. This is the only planet we have.
Would you recommend a visit to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex?
Absolutely! It’s more than just exhibits; it’s a full experience. The newest addition is the LC-39 Observation Gantry, part of the bus tour that also includes the Apollo/Saturn V Center. It’s become a true two-day destination, with new shows and experiences that bring space exploration to life.
There are now so many rocket launches that whatever time of the year a visitor is at the complex there is a good chance they will see one.
Joan Higginbotham is a veteran NASA Astronaut and one of the Astronaut Ambassadors for Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, located near Orlando, Florida. Among the many exhibits, attractions and experiences, visitors have the chance to speak with a veteran Astronaut, like Joan, every day. kennedyspacecenter.com
