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MISSION: CONSERVATION

ROCKET SCIENTIST TURNED NASA ASTRONAUT (RETIRED) SHARES EXPERIENCES FROM HER TIME SPENT ABOARD THE SPACE SHUTTLE AND THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, THE CHALLENGES SHE FACED, AND HOW SPACE EXPLORATION IS HELPING TO ADDRESS ISSUES HERE ON EARTH

JOAN HIGGINBOTHAM

Retired NASA Astronaut

Joan Higginbotham began her career at NASA in 1987 as a payload electrical engineer at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. During her nine-year tenure there, she participated in numerous space shuttle launches from the firing room, the “nerve center” for launches — an impressive accomplishment for anyone. However, when she returned to KSC for the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-116, a 12-day mission to the International Space Station, she took “participation” to a whole new level: as astronaut Joan Higginbotham. To date, she is the third of only three African American women astronauts to fly in space. 

For astronauts like Joan, performing common tasks that we take for granted here on Earth, can be quite challenging in space. Take exercising for instance. Astronauts in space exercise up to 14 hours a week to stay healthy, and their clothes take a beating. This is one of the examples of why NASA is teaming up with P&G to create and learn about new innovations that efficiently clean clothing within constrained environments. The partnership will help unveil breakthrough insights and power future innovations within the next decade. NASA Tide, a detergent, is being developed specifically for use in space to help combat challenges, such as malodor, cleanliness and stain removal, all while ensuring the laundry water output can be recycled for re-use as drinking water. Products like this will be used to advance environmentally friendly, low-resource-use laundry solutions here on Earth. Tide will also be a part of the future Artemis Moon and Mars Missions to help develop cleaning solutions for even longer duration crewed missions.

On June 23, Joan Higginbotham will be available to discuss how more sustainable solutions in space can lead to practical, impactful solutions here at home. She’ll also share memories of her spaceflight and what she expects to see from the NASA space program in the years to come.

More About Joan Higginbotham:
Joan Higginbotham began her career in 1987 at the Kennedy Space Center and within six months, became the lead engineer for the Orbiter Experiments (OEX) on OV-102, Space Shuttle Columbia. She later worked on the shuttle payload bay reconfiguration for all shuttle missions and conducted electrical compatibility tests for all payloads flown aboard the shuttle. Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996, Joan reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. She logged over 308 hours in space, having completed her first mission in 2006, with the crew of STS-116, where her primary task was to operate the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). Joan retired after a distinguished 20-year career with NASA. Joan has received numerous awards including: World Who’s Who of Women, Charlotte’s (NC) 50 Most Influential Women, the National Space Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and Savoy’s Top Influential Women in Corporate America. She has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Aerospace Science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, her alma mater, and an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from the University of New Orleans.

Produced for: P&G