KALPANA CHAWLA

 BIOGRAPHY

'Kalpana Chawla( July 1 , 1961 - February 1 , 2003 ). Chawla was born in Kernal , Haryana , India. She was an astronaut and space shuttle mission specialist of STS-107 ( Columbia ) who was killed when aircraft disintegrated after reentry into the Earth's atmosphere . Her interest in flight was inspired by J. R. D. Tata , India's first pilot.

Education

Chawla studied aeronautical engineering at the Punjab Engineering College in 1982 where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. She done his Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from University of Texas ( 1984 ).

Martial Status

 Kalpana Chawla became a naturalized USA citizen, and married Jean-Pierre Harrison, a freelance flying instructor. Chawla held a certified flight instructor's license with airplane and glider ratings, and has commercial pilot's licenses for single and multiengine land and seaplanes.

NASA Career

 Dr. Chawla entered NASA's astronaut program in 1994 and was selected for flight in 1996 . Chawla's first mission to space began on November 19 , 1997 as part of the 6 astronaut crew that flew the Space Shuttle Columbia Flight STS-87 . 

Chawla was dedicated to the scientific goals of SPACEHAB/FREESTAR microgravity research mission, for which the crew conducted nearly 80 experiments studying earth and space science, advance technology development, and astronaut health and safety.

Memories

 Shortly after her last mission, India renamed its first weather satellite 'Kalpana-1' in her honor. She died a hero and a role-model for many young women, particularly those in her hometown of Karnal where she periodically returned to encourage young girls to follow in her footsteps. Her brother, Sanjay Chawla , remarked "To me, my sister is not dead.  She will always be up there where she belongs."

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