(KSC) Operations (Ops) Support Branch, where she tested various modules of the International Space Station for operability, compatibility, and functionality prior to launch, the Astronaut Office CAPCOM (Capsule Communicator) Branch in the startup and support of numerous space station missions and space shuttle missions, the Robotics Branch, and Lead for the International Space Station Systems Crew Interfaces Section. Higginbotham logged over 308 hours in space during her mission with the crew of STS-116 where her primary task was to operate the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). Higginbotham took a scarf for the Houston Dynamo on board with her during her mission. Higginbotham was originally assigned to the crew of STS-126 targeted for launch in September 2008. On November 21, 2007, NASA announced a change in the crew manifest, due to Higginbotham's decision to leave NASA to take a job in the private sector. Donald Pettit replaced Higginbotham for STS-126. Awards and honors In 2007, Higginbotham received the Adler Planetarium Women in Space Science Award. Group Award for achievements related to the flight of the STS-26 (the first shuttle flight after the Challenger disaster) Commendation of Merit for Service to the Department of Defense Missions The Mecklenburg Times (2014) 50 Most Influential Women World Who's Who of Women Black Rose Award (2007) awarded by the (League of Black Women) Honorary Doctor of Aerospace Science (2016) awarded by the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (2017) awarded by the University of New Orleans Featured speaker at TEDxBermuda 2008 Featured in PBS special, “Bold Visions: Women in Science & Technology” See also List of African-American astronauts External links Official NASA bio References 1964 births Florida Institute of Technology alumni Living people Women astronauts People from Chicago Whitney M. Young Magnet High School alumni African-American women engineers American women engineers African-American engineers Recipients of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal NASA civilian astronauts Delta Sigma Theta members African-American women aviators American women aviators African-American aviators Space Shuttle program astronauts Engineers from Illinois 21st-century African-American people 21st-century African-American women 20th-century African-American people 20th-century African-American women