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Joan Higginbotham - The Engineer Who Became an Astronaut

Travel Talk with Ed Finn

Saturday, 4 October 2025 - 14 minutes

Joan Higginbotham started her career as an engineer never planning to become a NASA astronaut.  

When I spoke with Joan on Travel Talk, she told me how her remarkable journey began as an engineer at the Kennedy Space Center, helping prepare shuttles for launch. One day, during a routine conversation, the director of shuttle engineering turned to her and said, “You’d make a great astronaut.”  At first, she laughed it off — after all, astronauts were “ten feet tall and really smart,” she joked. But after the third nudge, she realised he wasn’t kidding. So she applied. Out of nearly 6,000 candidates, she was among the 120 invited to interview for NASA’s 1994 astronaut class. She didn’t make it the first time, but instead of walking away, she asked what she could do better. The advice? “Get more education.” So she did — earning another Master’s degree — and tried again. The second time, she made it.  As Joan told us, “Sometimes the first no just means the timing isn’t right.”

From engineer to astronaut, from the launch pad to orbiting Earth — Joan Higginbotham’s story is a powerful reminder that persistence, preparation, and a little push from the universe can take you anywhere.  As one of only five African American women ever to travel into space, Joan feels proud to have blazed a trail and she looks forward to a future where those distinctions are no longer counted. 

You can meet Joan in person at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.  - Details here - https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/event/meet-astronaut-joan-higginbotham/

 

TASTE OF SPACE RETURNS TO KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX

Discover a Galaxy of Flavours At Florida’s Leading Space Attraction

Between now and 17 November 2025, guests can take their taste buds on a journey through a galaxy of flavours at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. During the Taste of Space food festival, guests will sample delicious “Fall Bites” and delve into dishes prepared by celebrity chefs, all whilst mingling with veteran NASA astronauts and exploring the icons of space exploration.

Taste of Space: Fall Bites!

A delectable selection of special menu items featuring the distinctive flavours of fall will be available at  Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s Orbit Cafe and Moon Rock Cafe during Taste of Space: Fall Bites! From 3 October - 16 November 2025, visitors can indulge in out-of-this-world, limited-time menu items as follows: 

  • Orbit Cafe will feature a hearty lentil chili with crisp tortilla chips, a warm and flaky apple blossom drizzled with caramel sauce, and a cozy spaetzle tossed with mushrooms in a rich brown butter sauce.

  • Moon Rock Cafe, located at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, will serve a crispy pork schnitzel sandwich topped with tangy slaw as well as golden potato latke dippers paired with cranberry ketchup. For dessert, guests can enjoy a decadent chocolate Bundt cake with a tart raspberry sauce.

Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition

The Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition returns on 15 November and will honour 25 years aboard the International Space Station with an unforgettable evening of culinary creativity and astronaut storytelling. Renowned chefs Jet Tila, Amanda Freitag, and Jon Ashton will demonstrate their expert cooking techniques alongside veteran NASA astronauts Robert Cabana, Nicole Stott and Michael Lopez-Alegria. Attendees will enjoy exclusive dishes from the chefs, personal stories from astronauts, photo opportunities, a custom pin and commemorative keepsake. Tickets for this event are US$175 per person plus tax and are available for purchase online at www.kennedyspacecenter.com.

At Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, less than 1hr from Orlando, guests can go beyond their imagination and discover something real. From the dawn of space exploration, to current and ongoing missions, visitors can get a hands-on feel for the story of humans in space.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex opens daily at 9am, with closing times varying by season. Single-day admission is US$77 per adult, US$67 per child. A two-day ticket is available for US$91 per adult and US$81 per child.

For more information on Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and to book tickets, please go to www.kennedyspacecenter.com.

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