Personalities # 6 - Kalpana Chawla

Today we will have a look at the bio of an Indian Personality, best known for being the first woman of Indian-Origin in space. It is Kalpana Chawla.

Kalpana Chawla was born on March 17, 1962 in Karnal, Haryana. She was an Indian-American Scientist and a NASA Astronaut. She was one of seven crewmembers killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster. Her interest in flying was inspired by J.R.D Tata, a pioneering Indian pilot and industrialist. She met and married Jean-Pierre Harrison, a flying instructor and aviation writer, in 1983 and became a naturalized United States citizen in 1990. She joined the NASA astronaut corps in March 1995 and was selected for her first flight in 1998. In 2000 she was selected for her second flight as part of the crew of STS 107.. On January 16, 2003, Chawla finally returned to space aboard Columbia on the ill fated STS 107 Mission. Chawla's responsibilities included the microgravity experiments, for which the crew conducted nearly 80 experiments studying earth and space science, advanced technology development, and astronaut health and safety. Chawla's last visit to India was during the 1991–1992 new year holiday when she and her husband spent time with her family. She has been posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, NASA Space Flight Medal, NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.