Inspiration
Kalpana Chawla an eternal source of inspiration
Kalpana Chawla lived an extraordinary life by all standards. Born in a city where boys were given more preference than girls, her achievements far outdo most boys of her age and country. On her 54th birthday we remember her fondly.
Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian-American astronaut to go in space. Her first mission was aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 to cross horizons and fly into the space. Her life is an inspiration to women not only in India but across the globe. Today, on her 54th birthday, let’s remember her with all our hearts.
Here is a small glimpse into the epic life of Kalpana Chawla.
Kalpana was born on 17th March, 1962, in a small town of Karnal in Haryana to an average Indian middle class family. She grew up in a typical male dominant society, where boys were given all the freedom and girls weren’t even allowed to work. However, her mother was quite supportive and liberal, and she encouraged Kalpana to do something great. She did her schooling at Tagore Baal Niketan School in Karnal. She completed her B.Tech in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh in 1982. She obtained an Msc. degree Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. She wanted to get into NASA. She went on to get a second degree in 1986 and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering in 1988. In 1998 she began working with NASA Ames Research Center.
In 1983, Kalpna got married and settled down with Jean-Parrie Harrison, who was a flying instructor and an aviation author. They led a happily married life, while she started working hard to become an astronaut. Soon, she got promoted to the position of Vice President of Overset Methods, Inc at NASA Research Center. Besides training to become an astronaut she also gained certification for a pilot license for the seaplanes, multi engine air place and glider. She also was a Certificated Flight Instructor for glider and airplanes.
Her hard work paid off when she flew on her first Space mission on November 19, 1997 with 6 other astronauts to space on Space Shuttle Columbia flight STS-87. She became the first Indian born woman to fly in Space and only the second Indian to be in Space after Rakesh Sharma. Chawla traveled over 10.4 million miles in 252 orbits of the earth, logging more than 372 hours in space. After returning, she received many awards such as Congressional Space Medal of Honor NASA Space Flight Medal and NASA Distinguished Service Medal.
Her second Space mission started on 16th January 2003. She flew on Space Shuttle Columbia flight STS-107. While the shuttle was returning back to Earth, it malfunctioned and disintegrated, which caused the death of Kalpana, along with six other crew members. This tragic incident occurred on 1st February 2003. Though the first female astronaut from India died on that fateful day, she will always be remembered for her courage and hard work.
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