Kalpana Chawla: Her Life, NASA Career & Impact
Mon, 9 Feb 2026
In addition to being an astronaut, aerospace engineer, and a symbol of courage and perseverance worldwide, Kalpana Chawla made history by becoming the first Indian-born woman to fly into space. Kalpana's life—from her modest beginnings in a small town in India to her role as an astronaut with NASA—has been an inspiration for millions of people worldwide.
Early Life
Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal, Haryana, India, on 17 March 1962, the youngest of four siblings. She chose to enrol as Kalpana, which was one of the names provided by her family when entering school. Since she was very young, she had a keen interest in aeroplanes and flight. There was a small flying club located close to her home in Karnal, where seeing all these aeroplanes in the sky helped to influence her dreams. One of her most memorable moments was when her father arranged for her to take her first glider flight, which further fuelled her desire to fly.
Education
Kalpana Chawla completed her elementary education in Tagore Baal Niketan Senior Secondary School in Karnal. She graduated from Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering (1982). When she decided to continue her education in the United States, she began working toward her Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington (completed in 1984). After completing an additional Master's degree and a PhD, Kalpana went on to work for NASA.
NASA Career
After completing her studies, Kalpana went to work at NASA Ames Research Centre in California as a research scientist specialising in complex computational simulations involving airflow around aircraft. Chosen to be a NASA candidate for astronaut training in 1994, she went through an extensive regimen for becoming a specialist for mission and operating the robotic-arm of the Space Shuttle.
She flew in space for the first time on board the Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-87 in 1997. The crew on this mission conducted a number of science experiments and made some important orbital observations. Her second space shuttle flight was STS-107, which launched on January 16, 2003. The STS-107 mission lasted 16 days and included approximately eighty experiments in microgravity related to space science, technology, and astronaut health.
Devastating Casualty
On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry through the atmosphere, and the seven occupants died, including Kalpana Chawla. The cause of the catastrophe is attributed to the wing damage experienced at launch, and further analysis showed it was responsible for the disintegration. The nation and the world lost a great pioneer.
Kalpana Chawla has left behind many legacies, including many scholarships and award created in her memory and institutions name after her, such as the Meteorological Satellite "Kalpana-1", which is India's first Weather Satellite.
Kalpana Chawla has taught us determination, self-confidence, and how important it is to be a role model to others and give back to our communities. She achieved this through persistence and determination and has become an everlasting source of encouragement for younger generations, especially women pursuing their dreams of being involved in Science, Engineering, or Space Exploration.
Early Life
Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal, Haryana, India, on 17 March 1962, the youngest of four siblings. She chose to enrol as Kalpana, which was one of the names provided by her family when entering school. Since she was very young, she had a keen interest in aeroplanes and flight. There was a small flying club located close to her home in Karnal, where seeing all these aeroplanes in the sky helped to influence her dreams. One of her most memorable moments was when her father arranged for her to take her first glider flight, which further fuelled her desire to fly.
Education
Kalpana Chawla completed her elementary education in Tagore Baal Niketan Senior Secondary School in Karnal. She graduated from Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering (1982). When she decided to continue her education in the United States, she began working toward her Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington (completed in 1984). After completing an additional Master's degree and a PhD, Kalpana went on to work for NASA.
NASA Career
After completing her studies, Kalpana went to work at NASA Ames Research Centre in California as a research scientist specialising in complex computational simulations involving airflow around aircraft. Chosen to be a NASA candidate for astronaut training in 1994, she went through an extensive regimen for becoming a specialist for mission and operating the robotic-arm of the Space Shuttle.
She flew in space for the first time on board the Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-87 in 1997. The crew on this mission conducted a number of science experiments and made some important orbital observations. Her second space shuttle flight was STS-107, which launched on January 16, 2003. The STS-107 mission lasted 16 days and included approximately eighty experiments in microgravity related to space science, technology, and astronaut health.
Devastating Casualty
On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry through the atmosphere, and the seven occupants died, including Kalpana Chawla. The cause of the catastrophe is attributed to the wing damage experienced at launch, and further analysis showed it was responsible for the disintegration. The nation and the world lost a great pioneer.
Kalpana Chawla has left behind many legacies, including many scholarships and award created in her memory and institutions name after her, such as the Meteorological Satellite "Kalpana-1", which is India's first Weather Satellite.
Kalpana Chawla has taught us determination, self-confidence, and how important it is to be a role model to others and give back to our communities. She achieved this through persistence and determination and has become an everlasting source of encouragement for younger generations, especially women pursuing their dreams of being involved in Science, Engineering, or Space Exploration.