Kalpana Chawla - A Lifestory
Reaching For The Stars, Defying Gravity'S Hold
A brave and pioneering woman, an IndianAmerican astronaut and aerospace engineer, won hearts worldwide with her strong wish to explore space. Born on March 17, 1962, in Karnal, India, she loved flying from a young age, a dream that took her to the stars. After getting a science degree in aerospace engineering in 1982, she went to the United States, earning more degrees in aerospace engineering in 1984 and 1988. Her path wasn't easy. But she kept going, showing strength that defined her work. Her skills got her chosen by NASA in 1994, making her the first Indian woman in space. She did important research at NASA Ames Research Center. Her first space trip, STS87 on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997, was a big deal, for her and for women and people of Indian background everywhere. People who worked with her said she was very smart and dedicated; one said, "She was a brilliant scientist, always trying to do things no one had done before." Sadly, she died in the Space Shuttle Columbia accident on February 1, 2003, when it came back into Earth's atmosphere. But her story keeps inspiring people. She got the Congressional Space Medal of Honor after her death, a great honor for a woman who dared to dream big and had a huge effect on aerospace. Her story—of wanting something, working hard, and having a strong passion—goes beyond where she was from or what she did, touching anyone who admires courage and chasing dreams, like the stories in movies such as "Hidden Figures."
