Kalpana: An Untold Story

Kalpana Chawla (March 17, 1962 – February 1, 2003) was an American astronaut, engine er, and the first woman of Indian descent to go to space. She first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. In 2003, Chawla was one of the seven crew members who died 

in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster when the spacecraft disintegrated during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honour, and several streets, universities and institutions have been named in her honour. The late astronaut is recognized as a national hero of India.