Kalpana Chawla
- Category : Business-Top-executive
- Type : GE
- Profile : 6/2 - Role Model / Hermit
- Definition : Split - Large
- Incarnation Cross : LAX Demands 1
Biography
Indian astronaut, Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D. was mission specialist; aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. The space vehicle broke up upon reentry on 2/01/2003 starting approximately 7:53 AM CST overhead from California to Texas. All seven astronauts were lost.
Chawla received a Bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering, Punjab Engineering College, India, in 1982 , a Masters from University of Texas, 1984 and her doctorate from the University of Colorado in 1988. She began working at NASA Ames Research Center in 1988, transferring to Overset Methods Inc. of Los Altos, CA as Vice President and research scientist in 1993. Chawla was selected for the astronaut program in 1994, flew her first shuttle mission in 1997 as a mission specialist and prime robotic arm operator. She was also a mission specialist and in charge of a dozen experiments on board the Columbia, 1/16/2003 through it's tragic reentry, 2/01/2003.
She and her husband sponsored many children from the school where she studied and she was an inspiration for children to "follow their dreams."