Kalpana Chawla – her Journey described in simple and easy way.

Kalpana Chawla was born on 17 march 1962 in karnal,Punjab. The name Kalpana Means Imagination. She was very hard working and disciplined person. She took admission in aeronautical engineering despite all the challenges faced by her, that arise due to her being only female student in the branch.

Early life

kalpana was the youngest of the four children in the family, Her father banarsi lal chawla was a businessman, they stayed near a flying club in karnal , her father took kalpana for a joy ride in the plane, this inspired her to become a aeronautical Engineer. She completed her Engineering in punjab engineering college.

Kalpana Chawla embarked on her journey to the United States in 1982 to pursue her academic aspirations. She swiftly immersed herself in her studies, graduating in 1984 with a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. Completed her PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1988.

Career

In 1988, Kalpana Chawla began her journey at NASA’s Ames Research Center, delving into computational fluid dynamics research, particularly focusing on vertical and short take-off and landing (V/STOL) concepts. Her groundbreaking work was widely recognized, with many of her research findings published in esteemed technical journals and conference papers.

Transitioning to Overset Methods, Inc. in 1993, Chawla assumed the role of vice president and Research Scientist, specializing in the simulation of moving multiple body problems. Her expertise in this domain further solidified her reputation as a pioneering figure in aerospace engineering.

ecoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in April 1991 opened new horizons for Chawla. Driven by her passion for space exploration, she applied for the NASA Astronaut Corps, successfully joining in March 1995. This marked the beginning of her illustrious career as an astronaut, culminating in her selection for her inaugural spaceflight in 1997.

First Space Mission, STS-87

Kalpana Chawla’s first space mission commenced on November 19, 1997, as a member of the six-astronaut crew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia for mission STS-87. This historic journey marked her as the first Indian woman to venture into space. In the weightlessness of space, she eloquently remarked, “You are just your intelligence,” encapsulating the awe-inspiring experience.

During STS-87, Chawla traveled approximately 10.67 million kilometers, equivalent to orbiting the Earth 252 times. Over the course of the mission, spanning 10.46 million miles in 252 orbits, she accumulated more than 376 hours (15 days and 16 hours) in space.

Second Space Mission, STS-107

Kalpana Chawla’s second space mission was aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-107. Initially selected for the mission in 2000, But its launch faced multiple delays due to various technical issues and scheduling conflicts. Finally, on January 16, 2003, Chawla embarked on her second journey into space.

During the STS-107 mission, Chawla and her fellow crew members conducted nearly 80 experiments covering a wide range of scientific disciplines, including Earth and space science, technology development, and astronaut health and safety.

Tragically, during the launch of STS-107, a piece of foam insulation broke off from the Space Shuttle’s external tank and struck the port wing of the orbiter. Despite previous incidents of foam shedding during launches, NASA managers did not fully investigate the extent of the damage, leading to catastrophic consequences.

As Columbia re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere on February 1, 2003, the damaged wing allowed hot atmospheric gases to penetrate, resulting in the disintegration of the spacecraft over Texas. Kalpana Chawla, along with her six fellow crew members, lost their lives in the tragedy.

What can we learn from her?

Kalpana Chawla is a prime example for humanity that if we have a true desire to become A Mega Icon, It is possible with a Vision, Bigger that the self, A vision to dedicate Life for Welfare of Humanity. She is a inspiration for Humanity to live life more meaningfully.

The documentary episode dedicated to her in “Mega Icons” provides a platform to showcase her contributions and legacy to a wider audience, highlighting her significance as a prominent Indian personality and a trailblazer in the field of space exploration.