Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on May 23, 2007 16:01:38 GMT -6
Shuttle Astronaut Joan E. Higginbotham Meets the Chicago Astronomer
Some days are just too sweet.
As a journalist, I cover the Chicago Bd. of Education beat, writing about issues and concerns of those in the school system. This day I was to cover the regular monthly board meeting us usual.
To my complete surprise and without advance notice, Astronaut Joan E. Higginbotham, who hails from Chicago and graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, was in the audience to receive a recognition award from the board.
Now, I was aware from my media feeds that she would be at the Adler Planetarium this day and her schedule for tomorrow, but I could not cover both this day, and rather displeased that I would miss it.
Higginbotham flew on STS-116 Discovery (December 9-22, 2006). The seven-member crew on this 12-day mission continued construction of the ISS outpost by adding the P5 spacer truss segment during the first of four spacewalks. The next two spacewalks rewired the station’s power system, preparing it to support the addition of European and Japanese science modules by future shuttle crews. The fourth spacewalk was added to allow the crew to coax and retract a stubborn solar panel to fold up accordion-style into its box. Discovery also delivered a new crew member and more than two tons of equipment and supplies to the station. Almost two tons of items no longer needed on the station returned to Earth with STS-116. Mission duration was 12 days, 20 hours and 45 minutes.
I made my introduction and we exchanged a few pleasantries, after which she agreed to share in a nice pic together...
A very pleasant woman and modest, she agreed to talk more at length with me on the record, but ideally I should go thru the proper NASA channels and arrange time for it.
I anticipate interviewing her for the Chicago Astronomer soon.