Joan Higginbotham, now an Astronaut Ambassador for Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, recalls her one mission in space and tells Charlotte Flach how the experience was both humbling and inspiring
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 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.
Describe what it is like to be in space, and the effect that has on your body and mind
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.
Most 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, like osteoporosis, and muscle mass may not fully recover. That’s why astronauts exercise two hours a day in space, both cardio and resistance training.
What food 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.
What does a typical mission and travelling in space look like?
People think most astronauts don’t actually fly, but in reality almost all do.
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 International Space Station 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.
When I say I went to space in 2006, people usually 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.
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.
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 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 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!
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.
I didn’t know much about space when I started, I 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.
The newest addition is the LC-39 Observation Gantry, part of the bus tour that also includes the Apollo/Saturn V Center. It offers 360-degree panoramic views of active launch pads and the surrounding wildlife refuge, a full-scale rocket engine that comes to life during a simulated static-fire test – complete with thunderous sound, dazzling lights, and mist.
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. Watching a live rocket launch is an unforgettable, exhilarating experience. At Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, visitors can watch a launch from behind NASA’s gates, complete with live commentary from space experts, bleacher seating and access to the visitor complex’s attractions and exhibits.
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has become a true two-day destination, with new shows and experiences that bring space exploration to life.
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.
