Kalpana Chawla Profile

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Kalpana Chawla

'Kalpana Chawla' ( July 1 , 1961 - February 1 , 2003 ) was an astronaut and space shuttlemission specialist of STS-107 ( Columbia ) who was killed when the craft disintegratedafter reentry into the Earth's atmosphere .

Early LifeChawla was born in Karnal , Haryana , India . Her interest in flight was inspired by J. R. D.Tata , India's first pilot.

Education

Chawla studied aeronautical engineering at the Punjab Engineering College in 1982where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Thereafter she moved to the UnitedStates to obtain a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from University ofTexas ( 1984 ). Dr. Chawla earned a doctorate in aerospace engineering from University of

Colorado in 1988 . That same year she began working for NASA 's Ames ResearchCenter . Kalpana Chawla became a naturalized USA citizen, and married Jean-PierreHarrison, a freelance flying instructor. Chawla held a certified flight instructor's license withairplane and glider ratings, and has commercial pilot's licenses for single and multiengineland and seaplanes.

NASA Career

Dr. Chawla entered NASA's astronaut program in 1994 and was selected for flight in1996 . Chawla's first mission to space began on November 19 , 1997 as part of the 6astronaut crew that flew the Space Shuttle Columbia Flight STS-87 . Chawla was the firstIndian-born woman in space, as well as the first Indian-American in space. (She was thesecond person from India to fly into space, after cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma who went intospace in 1984 in a Soviet spacecraft.)

On her first mission Chawla travelled over 6.5 million miles in 252 orbits of the earth,logging more than 375 hours in space. During STS-87, she was responsible for deployingthe Spartan Satellite which malfunctioned forcing two other astronauts to go on aspacewalk to capture the solar satellite. A five-month NASA investigation blamed the erroron the flight crew and ground control. She was fully exonerated (although this did not stopsome reporters from making direspectful comments about her involvement in the mishap

in the days after her death in the explosion of the final Columbia mission). After beingselected for a second flight, Chawla lived at the Lyndon B Johnson Space Center inHouston, Texas , undergoing extensive training. Chawla's mission got delayed in July 2002when NASA engineers identified three cracks on the shuttle's second engine's liquidhydrogen flow liner. Over six months later the shuttle was cleared and she returned tospace in the ill-fated STS-107 mission.

Chawla was dedicated to the scientific goals of SPACEHAB/FREESTARmicrogravity research mission, for which the crew conducted nearly 80 experimentsstudying earth and space science, advance technology development, and astronaut healthand safety.


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Personal Characteristics

Chawla was a strict vegetarian . On her mission, she carried a white silk banner aspart of a worldwide campaign to honor teachers, as well as nearly two dozen CDs,including ones by Abida Parveen , Yehudi Menuhin , Ravi Shankar , and Deep Purple .She went to her first rock concert, a Deep Purple show, in 2001 with her husband.

"Kalpana is not necessarily a rock music aficionado," her husband said of a Deep Purpleshow they went to in 2001. "But (she) nevertheless characterized the show as a 'spiritualexperience.'" The administrator for the Hindu temple in Houston where Chawla attendedwhen her schedule permitted said "She was a nice lady ... and very pious."

Memoria

Shortly after her last mission, India renamed its first weather satellite 'Kalpana-1' inher honor. She died a hero and a role-model for many young women, particularly those inher hometown of Karnal where she periodically returned to encourage young girls to followin her footsteps. Her brother, Sanjay Chawla , remarked "To me, my sister is not dead. She

is immortal. Isn't that what a star is? She is a permanent star in the sky. She will always beup there where she belongs."

Kalpana Chawla

Born On: July 1st, 1961Born In: Karnal in HaryanaDied On: February 1st, 2003

Career: Astronaut, Aeronautic Engineer

Kalpana Chawla was India's first women aeronautical engineer to travel into space. She has

been a role model to several women in terms of achievement and contributions to the field ofaeronautics. Growing up in a male dominant society, Kalpana never let her dreams of flying be

affected in any way. In fact she was the first woman to study aeronautical engineering in her batch.Some of her memorials are: the Kalpana Chawla Award given by the Karnataka Government, a

dormitory named after her in the University of Texas at Arlington from where she did her Masters

and a planetarium in Haryana. This sheds light on her meritorious and outstanding achievements.Even though her death was sudden and unfortunate, she left a mark in the nation and will be

remembered forever. Read the following sections to know more about this dynamic personality, hercareer and life.

Early LifeKalpana Chawla was born on the 1st of July, 1961 in a small town in Karnal located in the state

of Haryana. Her parents, Banarasi Lal Chawla and Sanjyothi had two other daughters named Sunitaand Deepa and a son named Sanjay. Kalpana was the youngest in her family and hence, she was the

most pampered too.

She got educated at the Tagore Public School and later enrolled into Punjab Engineering College to

complete her Aeronautical Engineering Degree in 1982. In the same year, she moved to the US. She

got married to Jean-Pierre Harrison in 1983. He was her flying instructor and an aviation author.

In 1984, she completed her M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas in


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Arlington. In 1988, she obtained a Ph.D. in the same subject from the University of Colorado at

Boulder.

CareerKalpana Chawla was a certified flight instructor who rated aircrafts and gilders. She also held acommercial pilot license for single and multi-engine airplanes, hydroplanes and gliders. Kalpana

was a licensed Technician Class Amateur Radio person certified by the Federal Communicationcommission. Owing to her multiple degrees in Aerospace, she got a job in NASA as the Vice

President of the Overset Methods, Inc. in 1993. She was extensively involved in computational

fluid dynamics research on Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing. It was not until 1995 that shebecame a part of the NASA 'Astronaut Corps'.

Three years later, she was selected for her first mission i.e. to travel around the Earth in a space

shuttle. This operation consisted of six other members. Kalpana was responsible for organizing the

Spartan Satellite but she was unsuccessful in her role due to its malfunction. It was found that dueto technical errors, the satellite defied control of ground staff and flight crew members. Following

this, she was vindicated.

On the other hand, Kalpana Chawla created history for being the first Indian woman to travel in a

space shuttle. She had the privilege of journeying as far as 10.4million km. This approximately addsup to 252 times around the Earth's orbit that comprised of 372 hours in space.

After the Spartan Satellite incident, she was given a technical position. Her excellent work was

recognized and awarded. In 2000, she was again assigned on her second flight mission as a part of

Flight STS-107. Kalpana's responsibility included microgravity experiments. Along with her teammembers, she undertook a detailed research on advanced technology development, astronaut health

& safety, the study of Earth and space science. During the course of this mission, there were severalmishaps and cracks were detected in the shuttle engine flow liners. This delayed the project until

2003.

DeathIt was on February 1st 2003 that the space shuttle, STS-107, collapsed over the Texas region whenit re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. This unfortunate event ended the lives of seven crew members

including Kalpana.

Achievements and AccoladesDespite living in America, Kalpana Chawla was considered the pride of India. She was the firstIndian woman to travel in a space shuttle for 372 hours and complete 252 rotations around the

Earth's atmosphere. Her achievements have been an inspiration to many others in India and abroad.There are many science institutions named after her.

During her lifetime, Kalpana Chawla was awarded with three awards namely the CongressionalSpace Medal of Honor, NASA Space Flight Medal and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.

Timeline1961: She was born on 1st July in Karnal.1982: She moved to the United States to complete her education.1983: Married a flying instructor and aviation author, Jean-Pierre Harrison.1984: got an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas in Arlington.

1988: She received a Ph.D. in the same field and began to work for NASA.1993: Joined Overset Methods Inc. as Vice President and Research Scientist.1995: She joined the NASA 'Astronaut Corps.


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1996: Kalpana was the mission specialist for prime robotic arm operator on STS-87.1997: Her first mission on Flight STS-87 took place.2000: Assigned on her second mission as part of Flight STS-107.2003: Chawla got a second chance for the mission on Flight STS-107. On February 1st, she diedwhen the space shuttle broke down.

Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-American scientist and a NASA astronaut who make all ofus proud.

Profile of Kalpana Chawla

Birthplace of Kalpana Chawla she was born in Model Town Karnal in a Punjabi family. She wasinspired by the by J. R. D. Tata a pioneering Indian pilot and industrialist. Date of birth ofKalpana Chawla she was born on March 17, 1962

She was born in Punjabi Family, parents of Kalpana Chawla Banarasi Lal Chawla and Sanjyothiare very simple people. She had two elder sisters (Sunita & Deepa) and a brother (Sanjay).

Husband of Kalpana Chawla in 1963 she met with Jean-Pierre Harrison, a flying instructor andaviation writer and married to him. She becomes the United States citizen in 1990.

Education of Kalpana Chawla

Kalpana Chawla completed her schooling from Tagore Public School, Karnal. In 1982 sheearned her B.E. degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College,Chandigarh.

In 1982 she moved to the United States and obtained a M.S. degree in aerospace engineering fromthe University of Texas , Arlington (1984). She also got a second M.S. degree in 1986 and a Ph.D.degree in aerospace engineering in 1988 from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

NASA career of Kalpana Chawla

Kalpana Chawla was joined the NASA astronaut corps in March 1995 and she got selected for herfirst flight in 1998 as part of the six astronaut crew that flew the Space Shuttle Columbia flightSTS-87. She travelled over 10.4 million miles in 252 orbits of the earth, logging more than 360

hours in space.

She selected for her second flight as part of the crew of STS-107 in 2000 but because of some

scheduling conflicts and technical problems mission was delayed. On January 16, 2003 she finally

returned to space aboard Columbia on the ill-fated STS-107 mission and this was her last mission.


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Death of Kalpana Chawla

Kalpana Chawla died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster which occurred on February 1, 2003,when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earth'satmosphere, with the loss of all seven crew members. Her last visit to India was during the 1991

1992 New Year holiday.

Though Kalpana Chawla is not more in this world but she will remain in the heart of many peopleas an inspiration. Lots of colleges, hostels and other memorials are made on the name of KalpanaChawla to honor her.

We at haryanspider.com also salute her for making all of us proud and keep the name on Indiahigh.

Documents

Kalpana Chawla Profile