description Kalpana Chawla Overview
Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-born aerospace engineer and NASA astronaut who became the first woman of Indian origin to travel into space. She flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-87 in 1997, working as a mission specialist and robotic-arm operator. Chawla later served on the STS-107 crew and died when Columbia was destroyed during reentry in 2003, making her career part of the history of human spaceflight and its risks.
help Kalpana Chawla FAQ
What was Kalpana Chawla's first space mission?
Kalpana Chawla first flew in space on Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-87 in 1997. She served as a mission specialist and robotic-arm operator.
What made Kalpana Chawla historically significant?
She became the first woman of Indian origin to travel into space. Her career connected aerospace engineering with NASA human-spaceflight missions.
Which shuttle mission did Kalpana Chawla fly on in 2003?
Chawla later flew on Columbia mission STS-107 in 2003. She and the other crew members died when Columbia broke apart during reentry on February 1, 2003.
What did Kalpana Chawla study before joining NASA?
Chawla trained as an aerospace engineer before becoming an astronaut. Her technical background included work with aircraft and spacecraft flow and control problems.
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