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QUICK FACTS : KALPANA CHAWLA
The first Indian-American astronaut in space Remembering on her Birth Anniversary on March 17
1 . Kalpana was born on March 17 , 1962 , in Karnal , Haryana .
2 . She did her schooling from Haryana , and acquired her Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh in 1982 .
3 . To fulfil her desire of becoming an astronaut , she moved to the United States for higher studies . There , she obtained a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1984 .
4 . 1988 , she began working at the NASA Ames Research Centre , where she did Computational Fluid Dynamics ( CFD ) research on Vertical / Short Take-off and Landing concepts .
5 . In 1997 , Kalpana first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia STS-87 as a mission specialist .
6 . Kalpana was the first Indian-American astronaut and the first India-born woman in space . She was certified with a commercial pilot license for the seaplanes , multi engine air place and glider . She also was a Certificated Flight Instructor for glider and airplanes
7 . On her first mission , Kalpana travelled over 10.4 million miles in 252 orbits of the earth , logging more than 372 hours in space
17.03.1962 to 01.02.2003
8 . In the year , 2000 , Kalpana was selected for her second flight as part of the crew of STS-107 . The mission got repeatedly delayed and Kalpana returned to space on January 16 , 2003 .
9 . On February 1 , same year , Kalpana Chawla died along with all six other crew members in the Space Shuttle Columbia on the illfated STS-107 mission . The Space Shuttle disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earth ’ s atmosphere , leading to the death of all the seven crew members .
10 . In her honour , the following are named after Chawla : India ’ s first weather satellite , the Kalpana 1 ; A Nasa Supercomputer ; An asteroid , the 51826 Kalpana Chawla , which circles the Sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter .
Advice to Young Generation
Do something because you really want to do it . If you ’ re doing it just for the goal and don ’ t enjoy the path , then I think you ’ re cheating yourself .
I would say if you have a dream , follow it . It doesn ’ t really matter whether you are a woman or from India or from wherever .
I don ’ t know why I always liked aerospace engineering . I was in the 10th grade when I figured that ’ s what I wanted to do .
WINSPIRE : Empowering youth | March , 2017