Who is Kalpana Chawla?
Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-American astronaut and engineer. She is also the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She first flew to space in 1997 on Space Shuttle Columbia, where played the role of mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. Her second and final flight on Space Shuttle Columbia was in 2003 where she perished with seven other fellow crew members as the shuttle was re-entering Earth. Besides her aeronautical career, she was also interested in flying aerobatics, tail-wheel aeroplanes and held a license as a Certified Flight Instructor as well as Commercial Pilot’s licences for land and seaplanes.
Early Life
Born in the Indian city of Karnal in 1962, Chawla was the youngest of four siblings. Being confident and outgoing as she was known to be, she is said to have chosen her own name. At the time of her admission to a nearby school, she had not been given a formal name and was called by her nickname, Monto at home. As the principal asked Chawla to pick a name amongst the three names her family had in mind—Kalpana, Jyotsna and Sunaina. She happened to confidently pick ‘Kalpana’.
Her interest in aeroplanes and flying had taken roots since her early childhood. Karnal, being one of the few Indian towns at the time to have a flying club, would often see planes flying over, which Chawla had come to notice and enjoy watching. She was taken on a ride on the Pushpak and a glider by her father, an experience she fondly remembered.
Education
Kalpna Chawla attended the Tagore Baal Niketan Sr. Sec. School in Karnal for her early education and went on to complete her Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Punjab Engineering College at Chandigarh in 1982. She subsequently moved to the United States in 1984 to study at the University of Texas at Arlington. She went on to pursue an M.S. degree in aerospace engineering here. She also completed a second M.S. degree in 1986 as well as a PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1988.
NASA Career
In 1988, Chawla started her work as vice president of Overset Methods, Inc. at the NASA Ames Research Centre. As a part of her role, she researched the simulation of complex air flows encountered around aircrafts. In 1993 Kalpana Chawla joined Overset Methods Inc., Los Altos, California, as Vice President and Research Scientist where she was responsible for forming a team of researchers for the development and implementation of efficient aerodynamic optimisation techniques.
In December 1994, Kalpna Chawla was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in the 15th Group of Astronauts and reported to the Johnson Space Centre from March 1995 onwards. As a result of completing a year of training and evaluation, she was assigned as crew representative for the Astronaut Office EVA/Robotics and Computer Branches to work on technical issues. Her role included assignments on the development of Robotic Situational Awareness Displays and testing space shuttle control software in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory. Following this role, she was assigned as a mission specialist and prime robotic arm operator in November 1996 on Space Shuttle mission STS-87. Chawla had her first opportunity to fly in space in November 1997 as a part of this mission. The shuttle made 252 orbits of the Earth in a little over two weeks and carried out various experiments and observing tools on its trip. Chawla deployed a Spartan satellite from the shuttle which studied the outer layer of the sun but ended up malfunctioning.
In 2000, she was selected for her second mission as a part of the crew of STS-107. The mission was repeatedly delayed and ended up finally launching on January 16, 2003. For the 16-day flight to space, Chawla’s role included the microgravity experiments, for which almost 80 experiments were conducted by the crew, studying earth and space science, advanced technology development, and astronaut health and safety.
Death
As the crew of STS-107 was re-entering Earth on completing its 16-day flight duration on February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia and the crew, including Kalpna Chawla, perished about 16 minutes before its scheduled landing. Investigations following the incident found that a hole on one of the wings of the space shuttle led to hot atmospheric gases penetrating its heat shield, subsequently causing internal damages and the shuttle blowing up.
A 13-minute video recording of the astronauts, made during the start of the re-entry showed the crew conducting routine procedures and sharing jokes, indicating they had no idea of what was to come.
Legacy
Even after her death, Kalpna Chawla remains a massive form of inspiration to many Indian women for her achievements as well as for her successful career as an astronaut. Her legacy lives on in many ways. In her honour, the Haryana government in India set up a medical college and hospital in Karnal, along with names a planetarium in Jyotisar after her. The government of Karnataka as well instituted the Kalpna Chawla award in 2003 to recognise women scientists. At the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEL) in the United States, the Indian Students Association (ISA) launched the Kalpana Chawla Memorial Scholarship program. The University of Chicago has also renamed its Alumni Award to The Kalpana Chawla Outstanding Recent Alumni Award. India's first weather satellite, the Kalpana 1, was also named after the astronaut.
The University of Texas dedicated a memorial to Chawla at the Arlington College of Engineering in 2010. The memorial display included a flight suit, photographs, information about her life.
What you can learn from Kalpana Chawla
1. Giving Back
Even after moving to a different country to establish a successful aeronautical career, Chawla remained close to her roots and believed in helping others. When she became an astronaut, NASA invited her school in India to take part in their Summer Space Experience Program. Chawla felt strongly about providing science education opportunities for young girls in India. Each year, from 1998, the school sent two girls to the Foundation for International Space Education’s United Space School in Houston, USA.
2. Persistence
Kalpna Chawla often spoke of her family’s hesitance in letting her pursue a career in the aeronautical and engineering space. However, as persistent she was, Chawla stuck through her passion and tried her best to fulfil her dreams, something we all can take cues from.
3. Confidence
In Chawla’s time, it was not often that one saw many women in the field of aeronautics, let alone women who were willing to move countries to pursue their careers in space. This, however, failed to deter Chawla from her path and she confidently led the way to a whole new generation of inspired women.
Being the first woman of Indian origin to travel to space, Kalpna Chawla opened doors to many young women in India to pursue a career in the space of aeronautics as well as science as a whole. Even today, she remains an icon for women from all walks of life thanks to her achievements and hard work.
FAQs
Who is Kalpana Chawla?
Kalpana Chawla was an astronaut and also the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. Her first trip to space was in 1997 on Space Shuttle Columbia as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator.
What did Kalpana Chawla study?
Kalpana Chawla completed her early education from the Tagore Baal Niketan Sr. Sec. School in Karnal, and Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College at Chandigarh in 1982. Her educational journey in the United States include an M.S. degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, as well as PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Describe Kalpana Chawla's first mission in space
Kalpana Chawla was assigned as a mission specialist and prime robotic arm operator on Space Shuttle mission STS-87 by NASA in 1996, which led to her first opportunity to fly in space in Movember 1997. Her role in the mission involved deploying the Spartan Satellite into space. As a part of the mission, she logged more than 15 days and 16 hours in space.
What was the Space Shuttle Columbia mission?
The Space Shuttle Columbia was Chawla’s second mission to space with NASA, where she was a part of the crew of STS-107. As a part of the mission, which was a 16-day flight to space, Chawla was responsible for the microgravity experiments to study earth and space science as well as astronaut health and safety.
How did Kalpna Chawla die?
At the end of the Space Shuttle Columbia mission, the crew of STS-107, along with Kalpna Chawla, perished following an explosion during their re-entry to Earth. This took place about 16 minutes before its scheduled landing on earth and was a result of a hole on one of the wings of the space shuttle led to hot atmospheric gases penetrating its heat shield and causing the shuttle to blow up. Chawla died on February 1, 2003.
Image Source: Kalpanachawlacholars.org