EVENT OF THE MONTH: FEBRUARY 2016

February 1 marked the 13th death anniversary of Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian woman who entered the space at a young age. Chawla an India-American astronaut was part of the ill-fated Columbia Space Shuttle mission and died along with the crew when the spacecraft disintegrated while returning to earth on February 1, 2003.

Kalpana Chawla was born on July 1, 1961, in Karnal, Haryana.When Kalpana was selected for the Space Shuttle Mission, she was the second Indian to fly into space after Rakesh Sharma. Her interest in flying into space was inspired by India's first pilot J R D Tata.

She received her Bachelor degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College. Kalpana obtained her Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas.Chawla had a Ph.D. in aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado.

She worked in NASA'S Ames Research Center and even had certified Flight Instructor's license and Commercial Pilot’s licenses for single- and multi-engine land and seaplanes.She was 'KC' to her friends in NASA and her nickname in India was 'Montu'. Kalpana Chawla spent 30 days, 4 hours, and 54 minutes in space. 

She was the first Indian American astronaut and first Indian woman in space.In the year 2004, the Government of Karnataka instituted an award in her name for awarding young women scientists. The Government of Haryana built Kalpana Chawla Planetarium in memory of her. Chawla's first mission to space was in Space Shuttle Columbia Flight STS-87 as a mission specialist. 

Her  final mission was in STS-107. NASA had dedicated a supercomputer to Chawla. 74th street in Jackson Heights, New York City was renamed Kalpana Chawla Way. Shortly after her death, India renamed its first weather satellite as 'Kalpana 1' in her honour.

Courtesy: http://www.newindianexpress.com