Credit:- Wikipedia
Early Inspiration (1962): Born in Karnal, India, Kalpana Chawla's fascination with airplanes began in her childhood. Seeing airplanes fly overhead sparked her dream of a career in aerospace engineering.
Credit:- Dr. Kalpana Chawla Scholars
Academic Excellence (1982): Chawla excelled in academics, earning a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in India.
Credit:- HT Tech - Hindustan Times
Moving to the US (1982): Driven by her passion for aerospace, Chawla moved to the United States to pursue higher education. She earned a Master's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1984.
Credit:- The Independent
Reaching for the Stars (1986): Chawla continued her academic journey at the University of Colorado Boulder, obtaining a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering in 1988. Her doctoral research focused on computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer.
Credit:- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Wiki
Taking Flight (1986-1990): While pursuing her Ph.D., Chawla gained valuable experience working at NASA's Ames Research Center in California. She conducted research on aircraft aerodynamics and flight simulations.
Credit:- Space Center Houston
Soaring Higher (1990-1991): After completing her Ph.D., Chawla worked for several private aerospace companies, further honing her engineering skills in aircraft design and certification. She also earned her certification as a commercial pilot, flight instructor, and glider pilot.
Credit:- Dallas Asian American Historical Society
Becoming a U.S. Citizen (1991): Chawla's dedication to her work and her adopted country led her to become a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1991.
Credit:- The American Bazaar
Reaching for the Final Frontier (1994): Kalpana Chawla's dream finally took flight when she was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in December 1994. She underwent rigorous training for two years to prepare for space missions.
Credit:- UT Arlington
First Mission: Columbia (1997): In November 1997, Chawla became the first Indian-born woman and the second person of Indian origin to fly into space. She served as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator on the Space Shuttle Columbia, mission STS-87. During this 15-day mission, the crew deployed and retrieved the Spartan Satellite.
Credit:- Mid-day
A Legacy of Inspiration (2003): Tragically, Kalpana Chawla lost her life, along with the entire crew, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on February 1, 2003.
Credit:- LatestLY