Kalpana Chawla
- Born:
- March 17, 1962, Karnal, Haryana, India
- Died:
- February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
- Nationality:
- Indian-American
- Profession(s):
- Astronaut, Aerospace Engineer
Early Life and Education
- Completed her schooling at Tagore Baal Niketan Senior Secondary School, Karnal.
- Earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, India, in 1982.
- Obtained a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1984.
- Received a second Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1986.
- Awarded a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1988.
Career and Major Achievements
- Joined NASA Ames Research Center in 1988, working on computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
- Selected as a NASA astronaut in December 1994.
- First spaceflight was on STS-87 in November 1997 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, where she served as a mission specialist and prime robotic arm operator.
- Logged over 376 hours in space.
- Second spaceflight was on STS-107, also aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, which disintegrated upon reentry into the Earth's atmosphere on February 1, 2003.
Notable Works
While there isn't a specific list of publications easily attributable only to her (due to collaborative research environments), her work in computational fluid dynamics and her missions as a NASA astronaut represent her significant contributions.
Legacy and Impact
Kalpana Chawla's story and achievements have inspired generations, particularly in India, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The "Kalpana Chawla Awards" are given to young women for excellence in science and engineering in her honor. Her life story, including the circumstances of her death, has made her a symbol of courage and exploration.
This kalpana chawla biography with photos aims to summarise her life.