Kalpana Chawla was a renowned astronaut who became the first Indian-born woman to fly in space. She was born in Karnal, Haryana, India on March 17, 1962, and her achievements in the field of space exploration have made her a source of pride for many Indians.
During her time at NASA, Kalpana Chawla worked on various projects related to space research and exploration. In 1997, she was selected for her first space mission as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator on the Space Shuttle Columbia. She flew on this mission in 1997, and in 2000 she was selected for her second mission as part of the crew of the STS-107 mission.
Tragically, the STS-107 mission ended in disaster when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members, including Chawla. The accident occurred on February 1, 2003, just a few weeks before Chawla’s 41st birthday.
Chawla’s legacy lives on as an inspiration to many, especially young girls who aspire to be in the field of aerospace engineering and space exploration. Her contribution to the field of space research and her dedication to her work continue to be celebrated, and she remains a national hero in India.
The Indian-origin American astronaut embarked on her first space journey in 1997 on Space Shuttle Columbia as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator on this mission. She had completed 252 orbits of the earth in 15 days and 16 hours in this mission.
Her second and final journey into space was on STS-107 Space Shuttle Columbia. The 16-day flight was a dedicated science and research mission. The space shuttle disintegrated over Texas while returning into the Earth’s atmosphere on February 1, 2003, killing all the seven crew members including Chawla onboard.
Her last remains were cremated and scattered at National Park in Utah, US as per her wish.
Called KC by her friends, Chawla was admired for her kindness and her constant striving for perfection. She received many medals, and awards posthumously from both the Indian government and the US government for her contributions to space and science research.
MetSat-1, the first satellite under the Met-Sat series, which was launched on September 12, 2002 by India, was renamed Kalpana-1. The Kalpana Chawla Award was established by the Karnataka government to award young women scientists. Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College, Karnal, Haryana was established in 2017.
