Boundless

In this inspiring memoir, one of the first Black woman astronauts recounts her journey from the South Side of Chicago to the International Space Station—and the trials, setbacks, and triumphs that ultimately led her to opportunities out of this world.

Joan Higginbotham never set out to be the third Black woman to travel into space. Growing up in a family that valued education, she was an intrepid child who was encouraged to ask questions and explore. Her father had an engineer’s mind, and her brother was fascinated by aeronautics. But Joan’s curiosity took a different form. Like disassembling her brother’s radio and restoring an old phone line so she could secretly call her high school boyfriend. For her, engineering was the dream, not NASA.

Joan thought she had life after graduation planned out, until a NASA manager unexpectedly called her college dorm room and invited her to interview at the Kennedy Space Center. Visiting KSC one year after the Challenger disaster was a turning point for Joan, giving her a profound appreciation for NASA’s pursuit of space exploration. She accepted an offer to join the space shuttle program, stepping into a future she had never planned but was eager to embrace.

For nine years, Joan was a literal rocket scientist, ensuring the safety and success of countless shuttle missions as one of the few Black women at the table. Then, she was presented with a new opportunity: becoming an astronaut. Once again, Joan found herself embracing a future she never imagined. One that took her from survival training to liftoff aboard space shuttle Discovery and beyond as she contemplates what comes after achieving a dream few ever imagine.

Boundless is more than a story of space, it’s a deeply personal and inspiring journey of curiosity, perseverance, and possibility. Joan’s story reminds us that the sky is no longer the limit. She should know… she’s been above it.