Kalpana was born in Karnal, Haryana. She never thought she would cross the frontiers of space. She went to an engineering college after completing her education from the Tagore school. After getting a bachelor Science Degree in aeronautical engineering, she went to the United States to complete her master’s degree.
She got her Ph. D in aerospace engineering. She was married to a flight instructor Jean-Pierre Harrison. Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian American Woman Astronaut to Participate in Space Mission.
She was the first to blast off from the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Her family cheered with staff at the Kennedy Space Centre as they watched the Columbia lift off. Kalpana Chawla had license to fly single-engine seaplanes and gliders. She was also a certified flight instructor.
She applied for NASA’s space shuttle programme. She was first hired as a research scientist at NASA. She was selected for training as an astronaut in 1994 by NASA. According to her, she just followed her dreams without thinking that she was a woman or a person from a small city or from a different country. People around her encouraged her and suggested her to carry on.
Kalpana Chawla’s first Space Mission was for 15 Days
Her first space mission in the space shuttle Columbia was for 15 days, 16 hours and 34 minutes long. She went around the Earth 252 times, travelling 10.45 million km. There were also a Japanese and a Ukrainian astronaut in her crew. They performed experiments such as pollinating plants to observe food growth in space, tests for making stronger metals and faster computer chips. The space mission cost them about 56 million dollars. When the news about the Columbia disaster broke, people were shocked. The Karnal town spent a sleepless night as thousands of households stayed tuned to their television sets in the hope that Kalpana Chawla and the crew would survive somehow.
She was an inspiration
A journalist wrote about her that she was a heroine. An astronaut must know a lot about everything, from biology to astrophysics to aeronautical engineering. One must have all kind of knowledge to be an astronaut. Her achievement is awe-inspiring. She was a girl from small town, who touched skies and became an inspiration for others.
She sent a message from her space shuttle, saying there is a way which connects dreams to success and one should have the vision and courage to get onto it. She wished students have the vision and courage to get onto it. She wished students to have a great journey.