Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-American astronaut, aerospace engineer, and the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She flew on two Space Shuttle missions, STS-87 in 1997 and STS-107 in 2003
Where was Kalpana Chawla born?
She was born in Karnal, Haryana, India, on March 17, 1962
What inspired Kalpana Chawla to become an astronaut?
Her fascination with flight began in childhood when she visited a local flying club with her father. She was captivated by airplanes and dreamed of becoming an aerospace engineer
What were her educational qualifications?
Kalpana earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College, a master's degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado-Boulder
What were her major achievements in space exploration?
She became the first Indian-born woman in space during her first mission (STS-87) in 1997. Across two missions, she spent over 30 days in space and conducted numerous scientific experiments
What happened during her second mission (STS-107)?
Tragically, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on February 1, 2003, killing Kalpana and six other crew members
What awards did she receive posthumously?
Kalpana was honored with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and NASA's Distinguished Service Medal for her contributions to space exploration
How is Kalpana Chawla remembered today?
She is celebrated through numerous memorials, including a supercomputer named after her at NASA Ames Research Center and scholarships encouraging young women to pursue education in science and engineering .
What message did Kalpana Chawla share with students?
She encouraged students to follow their dreams, emphasizing persistence and hard work as keys to success