Kalpana Chawla (17 March 1962 – 1 February 2003) was an Indian-born American astronaut and aerospace engineer. She was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She flew two missions aboard the space shuttle Columbia and was one of seven astronauts killed when it broke apart on re-entry in 2003. She remains an inspiration to millions of young Indians.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Kalpana Chawla |
| Born | 17 March 1962, Karnal, Haryana, India |
| Died | 1 February 2003, over Texas, USA (aged 40) |
| Profession | Astronaut, aerospace engineer |
| Education | Punjab Engineering College; MS, University of Texas at Arlington; PhD, University of Colorado Boulder |
| Space missions | STS-87 (1997), STS-107 (2003) |
| Spouse | Jean-Pierre Harrison |
| Honour | Congressional Space Medal of Honor (posthumous) |
Early Life and Education
Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal, Haryana, the youngest of four children. Fascinated by aeroplanes as a child, she studied aeronautical engineering at Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh, one of the few women in her class. In 1982 she moved to the United States, where she earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. She then completed a PhD at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Career
Chawla began working at NASA’s Ames Research Center in 1988 on fluid dynamics. She became a US citizen and a licensed pilot, and in 1995 she was selected as a NASA astronaut.
In November 1997 Chawla flew aboard Columbia on mission STS-87 as a mission specialist and the primary robotic arm operator, becoming the first Indian-born woman in space.
Her second mission, STS-107, launched in January 2003 and carried out about 80 scientific experiments over 16 days. On 1 February 2003, as Columbia re-entered the atmosphere, it broke apart over Texas because of damage to its wing during launch. Chawla and her six crewmates were killed.
Personal Life
Chawla married Jean-Pierre Harrison, a flight instructor and aviation author, in 1983. She loved flying, hiking and poetry.
Legacy
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Kalpana Chawla born?
Kalpana Chawla was born on 17 March 1962 in Karnal, Haryana, India.
When did Kalpana Chawla die?
Died: 1 February 2003, over Texas, USA (aged 40).
