Kalpana Chawla was born on 17 March 1962 in Karnal, Punjab (now in Haryana) India. She was the first Indian – American astronaut and Indian-origin woman in space, flown beyond borders to become a pioneering astronaut. She was a naturalized U.S. citizen, married to flight instructor Jean-Pierre Harrison. Chawla’s first Space journey to began with her selection for the STS-87 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997. She later flew on the ill-fated STS-107 mission in 2003, tragically losing her life during re-entry of earth’s atmosphere, with the loss of all seven crew members.
How to completed her study during that era?
Fueled by ambition and dedication, She completed a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh in 1982. After earning her bachelor’s degree Chawla emigrated to the United States to pursue a Master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1984. She earned not just one, but three degrees, culminating in a PhD in Aerospace Engineering. She was the first Indian – American astronaut to blast off from the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. She joined the NASA, Space Shuttle program in 1994.
Kalpana Chawla’s First Space Mission
Her dedication and exceptional skills were recognized when she became one of the first six women astronauts selected for the NASA Astronaut Corps. She embarked on two historic spaceflights aboard the U.S. Space Shuttle Columbia.
In 1997, she launched into space for the first time. Chawla and the crew including a Japanese and a Ukrenian astronaut had completed 252 orbits of the earth in 15 days and 16 hours and 34 minutes, travelling 10.45 million kilometers! She conducted an experiment related to microgravity. Her dedication and brilliance led her to be selected for a second mission. She played a vital role in conducting scientific experiments that pushed the boundaries of human knowledge.
While traveling she spoke the words, “You are just your intelligence”.
Kalpana Chawla’s second Space Mission and death tragedy!
In 2000, she was selected for her second flight as part of the crew of STS-107. This mission was repeatedly delayed due to time conflicts and technical problems such as the July 2002 discovery of cracks in the shuttle engine flow liners. Kalpana and one of the seven crew members boarded the STS-107 Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.
Tragically, her life was cut short on February 1, 2003, the second mission in Columbia. Kalpana Chawla and six other crew members were killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster when it disintegrated as it re-entered the Earth’s surface while returning from space.
Inspiration to us
She was the heroine and enduring symbol of courage, perseverance, and the boundless potential that exists within us all. Her story continues to inspire people and millions of women, particularly young girls in STEM fields, to reach for the stars and disregard limitations.
Chawla’s famous quotes inspired us, she said, “When you look at the stars and the cosmos, you feel that you are not just from any one piece of land, but from the solar system,”The legacy of Kalpana Chawla endures forever and continues to motivate and inspire people around. NASA honored Kalpana Chawla with the naming of an asteroid, a lunar crater, and a hill on Mars.
