Kalpana Chawla
Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-American astronaut and the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. Her life and achievements continue to inspire people all over the world. Born on March 17, 1962, in Karnal, a small town in Haryana, India, Kalpana Chawla’s early life was marked by her keen interest in science and mathematics.
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Early Life
Kalpana Chawla, the first woman of Indian origin to go to space, was born on 17 March 1962 in Karnal, Haryana. She spent her childhood watching planes with her father and completed her schooling from Tagore Baal Niketan Senior Secondary School, Karnal.
Education of Kalpana Chawla
After finishing her schooling, Kalpana Chawla pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College in India. Later, she moved to the United States in 1982 to continue her studies and earned a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1984. Chawla achieved her second Master’s degree in 1986 and completed a PhD in aerospace engineering in 1988 from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Professional Life
Starting her professional journey in 1988 at NASA Ames Research Center, Kalpana Chawla engaged in research on computational fluid dynamics of vertical and/or short take-off and landing concepts. She then joined Overset Methods, Inc. In 1993, Chawla was appointed as Vice President and research scientist, specializing in the simulation of moving multiple body problems. Additionally, she was a Certified Flight Instructor for airplanes, gliders, and held Commercial Pilot licenses for single and multi-engine airplanes, seaplanes, and gliders.
After becoming a naturalized U.S. In April 1991, after becoming a citizen, Kalpana Chawla applied for the NASA Astronaut Corps and joined in March 1995. Her first flight was in 1997 as part of the six-astronaut crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia flight STS-87. During her spaceflight, Chawla completed 252 orbits of the earth and covered a distance of 10.4/6.5 million miles, spending more than 376 hours (equivalent to 15 days and 16 hours) in space. One of her duties involved deploying the Spartan Satellite which unfortunately malfunctioned, requiring a spacewalk by Winston Scott and Takao Doi to capture the satellite.
Second Space Mission and Tragedy
Chawla’s second space mission was on STS-107, the final flight of Columbia, in 2003. Kalpana Chawla was one of the seven crew members who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster when the spacecraft disintegrated during its re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere on 1 February 2003. Chawla traveled the equivalent of 252 times around the Earth, covering 10.67 million km.
Posthumous Awards and Honors
Kalpana Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, and numerous streets, universities, and institutions have been named in her honor.
Personal Life and Family of Kalpana Chawla
On 2 December 1983, Kalpana Chawla married Jean-Pierre Harrison at the age of 21. After the Columbia disaster, movie makers reached out to Harrison to make a film about Kalpana’s life, but he declined the offer because he wanted to maintain his wife’s memory as a personal matter.
In conclusion, Kalpana Chawla was a pioneering astronaut and aerospace engineer who broke barriers as the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She made significant contributions to the field of aeronautics and her legacy continues to inspire people around the world.
FAQ
How did Kalpana Chawla die?
On February 1, 2003, during her second space mission aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-107), Kalpana Chawla tragically lost her life. The shuttle disintegrated upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere over Texas, resulting in the death of all seven crew members. The disaster was caused by damage sustained during launch when a piece of insulating foam struck the left wing, compromising the shuttle’s thermal protection system. This breach allowed hot atmospheric gases to penetrate the wing upon re-entry, leading to the orbiter’s destruction.
What is a brief biography of Kalpana Chawla?
Kalpana Chawla was born on March 17, 1962, in Karnal, Haryana, India. She earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. Pursuing further studies in the United States, she obtained a Master of Science from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. In 1988, Chawla joined NASA as a research scientist and became an astronaut in 1994. She flew her first mission on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 and her second in 2003, during which she perished in the Columbia disaster.
What was Kalpana Chawla's educational background?
Kalpana Chawla’s passion for aviation led her to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh, India. She then moved to the United States, earning a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1984. Continuing her academic journey, she obtained a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1988. Her extensive education laid the foundation for her illustrious career as an astronaut and researcher.
Who were Kalpana Chawla's family members?
Kalpana Chawla was born to Banarasi Lal Chawla and Sanjyothi Chawla in Karnal, Haryana, India. She was the youngest of four siblings, with two elder sisters, Sunita and Deepa, and an elder brother, Sanjay. Her family supported her ambitions, despite societal norms, encouraging her pursuit of aerospace engineering and her dreams of space exploration.
Who was Kalpana Chawla's husband?
Kalpana Chawla was married to Jean-Pierre Harrison, a flying instructor and aviation author. The couple met during her time at the University of Texas at Arlington and married on December 2, 1983. Harrison supported Chawla’s aspirations and career, and they shared a mutual passion for flying and aerospace.
What was Kalpana Chawla's date of birth?
Kalpana Chawla was born on March 17, 1962. However, for school admission purposes, her official date of birth was recorded as July 1, 1961. Despite the discrepancy, March 17, 1962, is widely recognized as her birthdate.
Where was Kalpana Chawla born?
Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal, a city in the northern Indian state of Haryana. Karnal is known for its rich history and has been a significant center for education and research, which likely influenced Chawla’s early interests in aviation and space exploration.
What were Kalpana Chawla's major achievements?
Kalpana Chawla achieved several significant milestones in her career. She became the first woman of Indian origin to travel to space, flying on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. During this mission, she logged over 376 hours in space. Her dedication to space exploration and her pioneering spirit have inspired countless individuals worldwide to pursue careers in science and engineering.
What was Kalpana Chawla's first space mission?
Kalpana Chawla’s inaugural spaceflight was aboard Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-87, which launched on November 19, 1997. Serving as a mission specialist and robotic arm operator, she was responsible for deploying the Spartan satellite. Despite challenges during the mission, Chawla and her crew conducted various scientific experiments, contributing valuable data to microgravity studies. This mission marked her as the first woman of Indian descent to journey into space.
What was Kalpana Chawla's childhood like?
Growing up in Karnal, Haryana, Kalpana Chawla exhibited a keen interest in aviation and space from a young age. She was known for her curiosity and determination, often engaging in activities that defied traditional gender roles. Her early education at Tagore Baal Niketan Senior Secondary School laid the foundation for her future pursuits. Encouraged by her family, she aspired to reach the skies, a dream she realized through her dedication to aerospace engineering and space exploration.
