Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian woman in space, was born in Karnal, Haryana. She was born on March 17, 1962, to a Punjabi family. Her father, J.C. Chawla, was an accountant and her mother, Rajinder Chawla, was a homemaker. She had two elder brothers, Sanjay and Sunil.
Chawla studied at Tagore Bal Niketan School in Karnal. She then went on to study aeronautical engineering at Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh. After graduating, she moved to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. She later received a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
After completing her education, Chawla worked as a research scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California. She was selected by NASA in 1994 to be an astronaut. She flew her first space mission on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997. She was a mission specialist on the STS-107 mission, which launched on January 16, 2003. The mission ended in tragedy when the Columbia disintegrated during re-entry on February 1, 2003, killing all seven crew members.
Chawla was a pioneer in space exploration. She was a role model for women and girls around the world. She is remembered for her courage, her determination, and her passion for space exploration.
Karnal is a city in the Indian state of Haryana. It is the headquarters of Karnal district. The city is located on the banks of the Ghaggar River, about 150 kilometers (93 mi) north of New Delhi. Karnal is a major agricultural and industrial center. It is also a major transportation hub. The city is well-connected by road, rail, and air.
Ambala is a city in the Indian state of Haryana. It is the headquarters of Ambala district. The city is located on the banks of the Yamuna River, about 100 kilometers (62 mi) north of New Delhi. Ambala is a major military and educational center. It is also a major transportation hub. The city is well-connected by road, rail, and air.
Panipat is a city in the Indian state of Haryana. It is the headquarters of Panipat district. The city is located on the banks of the Yamuna River, about 90 kilometers (56 mi) north of New Delhi. Panipat is a major historical city. It is the site of three major battles in Indian history. The city is also a major industrial and commercial center.
Rohtak is a city in the Indian state of Haryana. It is the headquarters of Rohtak district. The city is located on the banks of the Yamuna River, about 90 kilometers (56 mi) north of New Delhi. Rohtak is a major industrial and commercial center. It is also a major educational center.