Kalpana Chawla Story

Kalpana Chawla Story

Kalpana Chawla was born on March 17, 1962, in Karnal, a small town in the state of Haryana in northern India. She was the youngest of four siblings and grew up in a family that valued education and hard work. Her father, Banarsi Lal Chawla, was a flying enthusiast and often took the family to see planes at the local flying club.

Kalpana was an excellent student from an early age, and her love for science and engineering was evident even as a child. She attended Tagore Public School in Karnal, where she excelled in academics and showed a keen interest in sports, particularly in playing volleyball.

In 1976, at the age of 14, Kalpana Chawla became interested in flying after taking a flight with a local flying club. She was fascinated by the experience and decided to pursue a career in aviation. She then began taking flying lessons, even though it was an unusual pursuit for a girl in India at that time.

After completing high school, Kalpana enrolled in Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh, where she earned her Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1982. She was the only woman in her class, and her determination and dedication to her studies were evident from her excellent academic performance.

After graduating, Kalpana moved to the United States to pursue her dream of becoming an astronaut. She earned a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1984, and then went on to earn a Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1988.

While pursuing her doctoral studies, Kalpana worked as a research assistant in the field of computational fluid dynamics at the NASA Ames Research Center in California. She conducted research on various projects related to aerodynamics, and her work was well-received by her colleagues.

In 1988, Kalpana Chawla joined Overset Methods, Inc. in California, where she worked as a Vice President and Research Scientist. She continued to work on computational fluid dynamics and aerodynamics, and her work was highly regarded in the field.

In 1994, Kalpana Chawla was selected to be a part of the NASA Astronaut Corps, after applying multiple times. She was one of only 15 candidates selected from over 2,400 applicants, and she became the first Indian-American woman to be selected as an astronaut.

Kalpana Chawla underwent rigorous training and testing for two years before being assigned to her first space mission. In 1996, she was selected as a mission specialist for the Space Shuttle Columbia's STS-87 mission, which was launched on November 19, 1997.

During the mission, Kalpana Chawla conducted various experiments related to microgravity and material science, and also operated the robotic arm of the space shuttle. She was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space, and she spent a total of 30 days, 14 hours, and 54 minutes in space, completing 252 orbits of the Earth.

Kalpana Chawla's achievements as an astronaut were widely recognized and celebrated in India and the United States. She was honoured with several awards, including the NASA Space Flight Medal, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

In 2001, Kalpana Chawla was assigned to her second space mission, STS-107, which was set to launch in January 2003. The mission was intended to conduct experiments related to various fields, including biology, physics, and space technology.

On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven crew members on board, including Kalpana Chawla. The disaster was a shock to the entire world, and investigations were conducted to determine the cause of the accident.

The investigation revealed that the disaster was caused by a breach in the shuttle's left wing, which allowed hot gases to enter and destroy the shuttle's structure. The breach was caused by a piece of foam insulation that had fallen off the shuttle's external fuel tank during launch.

The loss of Kalpana Chawla and the other crew members was a tragic blow to the space community and the world at large. Her untimely death was felt deeply by her family, friends, and colleagues, who remembered her as a dedicated and passionate astronaut who had made significant contributions to the field of space exploration.

In India, Kalpana Chawla's legacy was celebrated and honoured in various ways. In 2004, the Indian government established the Kalpana Chawla National Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to young girls pursuing higher education in science, engineering, and technology. The scholarship aims to encourage more girls to pursue careers in STEM fields and to honour Kalpana's memory.

Kalpana Chawla's life and achievements continue to inspire and motivate young people around the world. Her determination, dedication, and passion for space exploration serve as an example of what can be achieved through hard work and perseverance. She will always be remembered as a pioneer and trailblazer in the field of aerospace engineering and space exploration, and her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of scientists and astronauts.