Kalpana Chawla Biography in English PDF, Wiki, Bio, Age, Education Qualification, Parents, Death Age, Essay
Kalpana Chawla Biography in English PDF, Wiki, Bio, Age, Education Qualification, Parents, Death Age, Essay – Kalpana Chawla, also known as Monto, was a trailblazer in the field of space exploration. She was born on March 17, 1962, in Karnal, Haryana, India, and grew up to be an astronaut with an impressive record of achievements. Sadly, her life was cut short by a tragic accident in space. In this article, we will explore the journey of Kalpana Chawla, from her childhood to her groundbreaking space flights and the lasting impact she had on the world.
Kalpana Chawla Bio
| Real Name | Kalpana Chawla |
| Nickname | Monto |
| Profession | Astronaut |
| Date of Birth | 17 March 1962 (Real), 1 July 1961 (Official) |
| Date of Death | 1 February 2003 |
| Place of Birth | Karnal, Haryana, India |
| Place of Death | Aboard Space Shuttle Columbia over Texas, U.S. |
| Age (as of 1 Feb ’03) | 40 Years |
| Nationality | American |
| Hometown | Texas, U.S. |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Hobbies | Reading Poetry, playing Badminton, dancing |
Who was Kalpana Chawla?
Kalpana Chawla’s parents were Banarasi Lal Chawla and Sanjyothi Chawla. She had three younger siblings and was a bright kid. Her parents called her Montu before she started school. But when she did, she chose her own name. She started her career in 1988 at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she worked on fluid dynamics simulations for powered lifts. She studied the complex airflows around aircraft like the Harrier using the “ground-effect” theory.
In 1993, Kalpana Chawla joined Paranoid Ideation Methods Inc. in Los Altos, Texas, as a vice president and research associate. The main goal of the team was to simulate the challenges of transporting different bodies. She developed and applied effective aerodynamics optimization methods. She published her research findings in journals and specialized papers. She was selected by NASA in Dec of 1994. She reported as a candidate for the 15th Group of Astronauts at Johnson’s center in Mar 1995.
Kalpana Chawla’s Early Life
Kalpana Chawla was born in a small town called Karnal in Haryana, India. She had three older siblings and grew up in a simple home. Kalpana has been fascinated by flying and the sky since she was a kid. She enjoyed watching aeroplanes and dreamed of becoming a pilot someday. Kalpana overcame some gender obstacles when she wanted to pursue an aviation career.
She got her second Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas in Austin. In 1994, NASA selected her as an astronaut candidate and her dreams came true. Kalpana Chawla became the first Indian-born woman to go to space when she flew on mission STS-87 of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997, after a lot of training and preparation.
Kalpana’s career was a tribute to her determination and passion for exploration. Many people, especially women who want to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, look up to her life and achievements. Kalpana Chawla’s life ended tragically on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during re-entry, but her legacy lives on as proof of human creativity and the quest for impossible goals.
Kalpana Chawla’s Education
Kalpana Chawla studied at Tagore Baal Niketan Senior Secondary School in Karnal for her primary and secondary education in India. After she became a NASA astronaut, NASA invited the school to join their Summer Space Experience Program. Chawla was very keen on making sure that young women in India had the opportunity to learn science.
She got her aeronautical engineering degree from Punjab Engineering College. Some professors tried to stop her from picking the degree because they thought there were not many choices for women in India who wanted to follow this career path. But Chawla did not give up. She moved from India to the United States in the 1980s and became a citizen to finish her education. She worked as an aeronautical engineer at the University of Colorado when she got her master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 2005. She also started studying fluid mechanics for lifting systems at NASA Ames Research Center the next year.
| School | Tagore Bal Niketan School, Karnal |
| Collage | Dyal Singh College Karnal Haryana, Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh, The University of Texas, Arlington, U.S, The University of Colorado, Boulder, U.S |
| Qualification | Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Second Masters and PhD in Aerospace Engineering |
Kalpana Chawla’s Career
Kalpana Chawla joined NASA Ames Research Center in 1988, where she worked on computational fluid dynamics for powered lifts. She studied the complex airflows around aircraft, especially the Harrier, using the “ground-effect” theory. She moved to Overset Methods Inc. in 1993, where she teamed up with other researchers to work on modeling scenarios with multiple moving bodies. She created and applied aerodynamic optimization methods. She shared her research results in technical journals and papers.
NASA selected her in December 1994, and she started working for them in January 1995. She caught the eye of the Johnson Space Center as an astronaut candidate when the 15th Group of Astronauts was formed in March 1995. She had to finish one full year of training to become an Astronaut Office EVA/Robotics and Computer Branch Crew Representative. There, she tested software for the space shuttles and used Robotic Situation Awareness Displays.
Kalpana Chawla’s Space Mission
Kalpana Chawla got her first chance for a space mission as a woman in November 1997 on STS-87 on the spacecraft Columbia. The shuttle circled the Earth 250 times in more than two weeks. It carried a Sparta Microsatellite, which Kalpana Chawla released from it, as one of the experiments and devices.
The shuttle had a problem because of software errors, so the other 2 astronauts had to go to the moon to get the satellite back from the ship. Kalpana’s legacy continues after she died. Banarasi Lal Chawla, Kalpana’s dad, says that his daughter’s only hope is for women and kids to have the same chance to learn.
Kalpana Chawla’s Death (Second Mission)
Kalpana Chawla got picked for a second space trip in 2000. She was a leader of a team again on STS-107. The mission was delayed many times before it took off in 2003. The crew did more than 80 experiments on the 16-day trip. The spacecraft came back to Earth on February 1, 2003, and tried to land at NASA’s Kennedy Spaceport. A piece of insulation as big as a briefcase broke off during launch, the official said.
It hurt the shuttle’s wing’s heat protection system. The system blocked heat when it came back. The shuttle’s wing broke when it met the air because hot gas got into it during the trip. She was 40 years old at her death.
Kalpana Chawla Relationships
Kalpana Chawla married Jean-Pierre Harrison, a flying instructor and aviation writer, in 1983. Their lasting marriage showed a common love for the sky. Even though they did not have kids, the couple’s relationship represented a connection of two soulmates, both fascinated by the endless opportunities of flight. Kalpana’s personal life, mixed with her professional successes, gave a personal touch to the story of this amazing astronaut.
| Banarasi Lal Chawla (deceased) | Father |
| Sanjyothi Chawla | Mother |
| Sanjay | Brother |
| Sunita, Dipa, and 1 other | Sisters |
| Jean-Pierre Harrison | Husband |
Kalpana Chawla’s Achievements and Accolades
Kalpana Chawla lived in America, but she was India’s pride. She was the first Indian woman to go on a space shuttle for 372 hours and circle the Earth’s atmosphere 252 times. Her successes have motivated many people in India and other places. Many science places have her name. Kalpana Chawla got three awards in her life: the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the NASA Space Flight Medal and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.
Timeline, 1961: She was born on 1st July in Karnal. 1982: She went to the United States to finish her education. 1983: Married a flying instructor and aviation writer, Jean-Pierre Harrison. 1984: She got an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas in Arlington. 1988: She got a Ph.D. in the same thing and started to work for NASA. 1993: Joined Overset Methods Inc. as Vice President and Research Scientist.
1995: She became part of the NASA ‘Astronaut Corps. 1996: Kalpana was the mission specialist for the prime robotic arm operator on STS-87. 1997: Her first mission on Flight STS-87 happened. 2000: Got another mission as part of Flight STS-107. 2003: Chawla did the mission on Flight STS-107 again. On February 1st, She died when the space shuttle fell apart.
Conclusion
Kalpana Chawla’s life and career went beyond the limits of time and space. She came from a small town in Haryana and reached the huge space. She still inspires people who want to be astronauts and dreamers all over the world. The Columbia accident was a sad time, but Kalpana’s spirit keeps flying high through the awards, praises, and names that show her lasting legacy. As we think of this pioneer, we cheer not only an astronaut but a woman who touched the stars and made a lasting impression on the story of human success.
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