Who is kalpana chawla

Who is Kalpana Chawla? Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-American astronaut and engineer. She is also the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She first flew to space in 1997 on Space Shuttle Columbia, where played the role of mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. Her second and final flight on Space Shuttle Columbia was in 2003 where she perished with seven other fellow crew members as the shuttle was re-entering Earth. Besides her aeronautical career, she was also interested in flying aerobatics, tail-wheel aeroplanes and held a license as a Certified Flight Instructor as well as Commercial Pilot’s licences for land and seaplanes. Early Life Born in the Indian city of Karnal in 1962, Chawla was the youngest of four siblings. Being confident and outgoing as she was known to be, she is said to have chosen her own name. At the time of her admission to a nearby school, she had not been given a formal name and was called by her nickname, Monto at home. As the principal asked Chawla to pick a name amongst the three names her family had in mind—Kalpana, Jyotsna and Sunaina. She happened to confidently pick ‘Kalpana’. Her interest in aeroplanes and flying had taken roots since her early childhood. Karnal, being one of the few Indian towns at the time to have a flying club, would often see planes flying over, which Chawla had come to notice and enjoy watching. She was taken on a ride on the Pushpak and a glider by her father, an experience she fondly remembered....

Astronaut Kalpana Chawla, an alumna of the University of Texas at Arlington, was one of the seven astronauts on the space shuttle Columbia, which broke apart in flames over Texas on Feb. 1, 2003, killing all the astronauts on board just 16 minutes before they were supposed to land in Florida. (AP Photo/NASA, File) (Anonymous / AP) Twenty years after NASA’s Columbia space shuttle exploded over Texas, the University of Texas at Arlington continues to honor the legacy of one of its prominent alumni. Kalpana Chawla became the first Indian-born woman to go to space in 1997. She graduated from UTA in 1984 with a master’s degree in aerospace engineering, and spent hot summers working on her thesis research in an old aerodynamics lab with advisor Don Wilson. Chawla is remembered as a trailblazer and an inspiration to aspiring Indian and Indian-American scientists. Wilson, now a professor and associate chair of UTA’s mechanical and aerospace engineering department, remembers her as a hardworking student who went by KC to friends. “As long as I teach, you deal with a lot of students … some of them you stay in touch with, and some of them you never hear from again,” Wilson said. “She was one that we stayed in touch with, and I was always glad that we were able to do that.” ‘She ... had a real desire to make something of herself’ Chawla was born in Karnal, India, in 1962. She watched planes soar through the air at the local flying club with her father, sparking her interest in the sky...

• Share • Pin Kalpana Chawla was born on 17 March 1962 and died on 1 February 2003. She was an Indian-born American astronaut and mechanical engineer who was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. Her second flight was on STS-107, the final flight of Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. In the article are the top ten facts about Kalpana Chawla. 1. Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor The Congressional Space Medal of Honor was authorized by the United States Congress in 1969 to recognize any astronaut who in the performance of his or her duties has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and mankind. It is awarded by the President of the United States in Congress’s name on recommendations from the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The award is a separate decoration from the Medal of Honor, which is a military award for extreme bravery and gallantry in combat. Chawla is regarded as a national hero in India. That is why she was awarded the honour of having travelled to space twice one of which she came back to earth safely and the other one which se died in space. 2. Chawla died on duty A photo of Kalpana Chawla by NASA – In 2001, Chawla was selected for her second flight as part of the crew of STS-107. This mission was rep...

• • • Kalpana Chawla - the woman who loved to fly: All about India's first woman astronaut Kalpana Chawla – the woman who loved to fly: All about India’s first woman astronaut Kalpana Chawla, who had dreamt of being an aerospace engineer from an early age, said she was inspired be seeing anybody who gave their best to something. Kalpana Chawla was born and brought up in Karnal, Haryana (Photo credit: NASA/Cesar Acosta) On this day in 1962, she was born. The first Indian-born woman to fly in space and only the second Indian person to do so. Kalpana Chawla — the name that leaves almost all Indians with pride — would have been 55 today had it not been for the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003 which led to her death and six other astronauts. On her birth anniversary today, we bring you some facts about the Indian astronaut whose achievements continue to inspire many. * Kalpana Chawla was born and brought up in Karnal, Haryana. While she completed her schooling from Tagore School, Karnal in 1976, she went on to get a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in 1982. The same year she moved to US to pursue a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1988 she got a PhD in the subject from the University of Colorado. Astronaut Kalpana Chawla, STS-107 mission specialist, prepares to simulate a parachute drop into water during an emergency bailout training session in the Neut...

Who is Kalpana Chawla? Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-American astronaut and engineer. She is also the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She first flew to space in 1997 on Space Shuttle Columbia, where played the role of mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. Her second and final flight on Space Shuttle Columbia was in 2003 where she perished with seven other fellow crew members as the shuttle was re-entering Earth. Besides her aeronautical career, she was also interested in flying aerobatics, tail-wheel aeroplanes and held a license as a Certified Flight Instructor as well as Commercial Pilot’s licences for land and seaplanes. Early Life Born in the Indian city of Karnal in 1962, Chawla was the youngest of four siblings. Being confident and outgoing as she was known to be, she is said to have chosen her own name. At the time of her admission to a nearby school, she had not been given a formal name and was called by her nickname, Monto at home. As the principal asked Chawla to pick a name amongst the three names her family had in mind—Kalpana, Jyotsna and Sunaina. She happened to confidently pick ‘Kalpana’. Her interest in aeroplanes and flying had taken roots since her early childhood. Karnal, being one of the few Indian towns at the time to have a flying club, would often see planes flying over, which Chawla had come to notice and enjoy watching. She was taken on a ride on the Pushpak and a glider by her father, an experience she fondly remembered....

• • • Kalpana Chawla - the woman who loved to fly: All about India's first woman astronaut Kalpana Chawla – the woman who loved to fly: All about India’s first woman astronaut Kalpana Chawla, who had dreamt of being an aerospace engineer from an early age, said she was inspired be seeing anybody who gave their best to something. Kalpana Chawla was born and brought up in Karnal, Haryana (Photo credit: NASA/Cesar Acosta) On this day in 1962, she was born. The first Indian-born woman to fly in space and only the second Indian person to do so. Kalpana Chawla — the name that leaves almost all Indians with pride — would have been 55 today had it not been for the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003 which led to her death and six other astronauts. On her birth anniversary today, we bring you some facts about the Indian astronaut whose achievements continue to inspire many. * Kalpana Chawla was born and brought up in Karnal, Haryana. While she completed her schooling from Tagore School, Karnal in 1976, she went on to get a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in 1982. The same year she moved to US to pursue a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1988 she got a PhD in the subject from the University of Colorado. Astronaut Kalpana Chawla, STS-107 mission specialist, prepares to simulate a parachute drop into water during an emergency bailout training session in the Neut...

Astronaut Kalpana Chawla, an alumna of the University of Texas at Arlington, was one of the seven astronauts on the space shuttle Columbia, which broke apart in flames over Texas on Feb. 1, 2003, killing all the astronauts on board just 16 minutes before they were supposed to land in Florida. (AP Photo/NASA, File) (Anonymous / AP) Twenty years after NASA’s Columbia space shuttle exploded over Texas, the University of Texas at Arlington continues to honor the legacy of one of its prominent alumni. Kalpana Chawla became the first Indian-born woman to go to space in 1997. She graduated from UTA in 1984 with a master’s degree in aerospace engineering, and spent hot summers working on her thesis research in an old aerodynamics lab with advisor Don Wilson. Chawla is remembered as a trailblazer and an inspiration to aspiring Indian and Indian-American scientists. Wilson, now a professor and associate chair of UTA’s mechanical and aerospace engineering department, remembers her as a hardworking student who went by KC to friends. “As long as I teach, you deal with a lot of students … some of them you stay in touch with, and some of them you never hear from again,” Wilson said. “She was one that we stayed in touch with, and I was always glad that we were able to do that.” ‘She ... had a real desire to make something of herself’ Chawla was born in Karnal, India, in 1962. She watched planes soar through the air at the local flying club with her father, sparking her interest in the sky...

• Share • Pin Kalpana Chawla was born on 17 March 1962 and died on 1 February 2003. She was an Indian-born American astronaut and mechanical engineer who was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. Her second flight was on STS-107, the final flight of Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. In the article are the top ten facts about Kalpana Chawla. 1. Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor The Congressional Space Medal of Honor was authorized by the United States Congress in 1969 to recognize any astronaut who in the performance of his or her duties has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and mankind. It is awarded by the President of the United States in Congress’s name on recommendations from the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The award is a separate decoration from the Medal of Honor, which is a military award for extreme bravery and gallantry in combat. Chawla is regarded as a national hero in India. That is why she was awarded the honour of having travelled to space twice one of which she came back to earth safely and the other one which se died in space. 2. Chawla died on duty A photo of Kalpana Chawla by NASA – In 2001, Chawla was selected for her second flight as part of the crew of STS-107. This mission was rep...

Who is Kalpana Chawla? Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-American astronaut and engineer. She is also the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She first flew to space in 1997 on Space Shuttle Columbia, where played the role of mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. Her second and final flight on Space Shuttle Columbia was in 2003 where she perished with seven other fellow crew members as the shuttle was re-entering Earth. Besides her aeronautical career, she was also interested in flying aerobatics, tail-wheel aeroplanes and held a license as a Certified Flight Instructor as well as Commercial Pilot’s licences for land and seaplanes. Early Life Born in the Indian city of Karnal in 1962, Chawla was the youngest of four siblings. Being confident and outgoing as she was known to be, she is said to have chosen her own name. At the time of her admission to a nearby school, she had not been given a formal name and was called by her nickname, Monto at home. As the principal asked Chawla to pick a name amongst the three names her family had in mind—Kalpana, Jyotsna and Sunaina. She happened to confidently pick ‘Kalpana’. Her interest in aeroplanes and flying had taken roots since her early childhood. Karnal, being one of the few Indian towns at the time to have a flying club, would often see planes flying over, which Chawla had come to notice and enjoy watching. She was taken on a ride on the Pushpak and a glider by her father, an experience she fondly remembered....

• • • Kalpana Chawla - the woman who loved to fly: All about India's first woman astronaut Kalpana Chawla – the woman who loved to fly: All about India’s first woman astronaut Kalpana Chawla, who had dreamt of being an aerospace engineer from an early age, said she was inspired be seeing anybody who gave their best to something. Kalpana Chawla was born and brought up in Karnal, Haryana (Photo credit: NASA/Cesar Acosta) On this day in 1962, she was born. The first Indian-born woman to fly in space and only the second Indian person to do so. Kalpana Chawla — the name that leaves almost all Indians with pride — would have been 55 today had it not been for the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003 which led to her death and six other astronauts. On her birth anniversary today, we bring you some facts about the Indian astronaut whose achievements continue to inspire many. * Kalpana Chawla was born and brought up in Karnal, Haryana. While she completed her schooling from Tagore School, Karnal in 1976, she went on to get a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in 1982. The same year she moved to US to pursue a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1988 she got a PhD in the subject from the University of Colorado. Astronaut Kalpana Chawla, STS-107 mission specialist, prepares to simulate a parachute drop into water during an emergency bailout training session in the Neut...