KALPANA CHAWLA | INSPIRATION: REACHING FOR THE STARS.

  

INTRODUCTION:

Kalpana Chawla, Indian's first woman astronaut to go into space,was born on March 17,1962 in Chawla family at Karnal. Kalpana means "Idea and imagination". This essay is written by "AI LING LOUIE." In her last book named "INSPIRATION: REACHING FOR THE STARS" talks about rare individual name Kalpana.

FAMILY:

Father: Bansari Lal Chawla

Mother: sonjyoti

Two sister

One brother

Kalpana was born and grow up in middle class and economically comfortable family. Har family members's called her as "Montu". She come across a lot of social barriers and this restrictions. Her parents  unfailing support her in good way. She grown up under remarkable hard work and perseverance. Family grit and determination left a deep lasting impression on her. Kalpana's mother's words like,"one should never give up on anything one believed and always do what one loves best."give strength to her.

      

          "You couldn't lose by working 

           hard and     everyone seemed 

          to follow the rules. It helped 

          instil to notion that no matter 

           what the circumstances you 

         can indeed follow your dream."

EDUCATION:

School: Tagore Bal Niketan

Pre degree: Dayal Singh College , Karnal

Graduation:Punjab Engineering College                                    ,Chandigarh (PEC)

Post graduation: University of Texas at                                           Arlington (UTA) (1982)

Ph.D : In Aerospace Engineering Colorado                 (1988)

SCHOOL:

In school,Kalpana had principal who loved the children and teacher who are caring and deeply committed to their profession. Her school went a long way in shopping of her. Kalpana went to a school that was closed to her home.

COLLEGE:

Kalpana wanted to be flight engineer and design aircraft-opted to study aeronautical engineering. Again the principal and teachers at the college tried to persuade Kalpana to change her choice to the streams of Civil, Electrical or Mechanical engineering. She choose to become a part of the small class of eight its only girl student.

Kalpana soon rose to top of the class. She spent her time in classroom, library or laboratory. She also participate in annual sports day and Aero and Astro society's activities.

At PEC she learnt about:1.Aircraft materials

                                            2.Propulsion

                                            3.Theoretical                                                               aerodynamics

POST-GRADUATION:

Kalpana decided to attend the "University of Texas" at ailington (UTA) in 1982. Once again, her family is not happy for her this decision but she convinced them. Kalpana pluged into the American MS programme.In the world of Don vision, her thisis guide at Arlington.

        "My first impression was that

          she was the quite and shy girl

          who was intimidiated by 

          her surrounding. But she

          adapted very well and came 

          across as  a very high spirited 

          individual with a burning 

               desired to succeed".

                                 - Don Wilson.

Most of her time on campus was spent in classroom and the library. She would also spend long hours in the laboratory sometime working late into the night, long after everyone else had left.

Ph.D:

She enrolled for a PhD in mechanical engineering than shift to aerospace engineering that had always been her passion .Miriam, a dear friend at Colorado. She completed ph.D in 1988.

MARRIGE  LIFE:

In December 1983, Kalpana married French American "JEAN PIERRE HARRISON"  who was among the first friend she had made on her arrival in the United State. Har family was upset about her marriage but Kalpana won her approval and blessing with her firm faith. After completing masters, Kalpana moved to Colorado in the rocky mountaing.

Characteristic of Kalpana:

- Bright student

- Willing nature to choose the difficult path

- Burning desire for success

- Nature enthusiast

- Believes in lasting relationships

- Hard worker with convincing power

- Fascinated by aircraft

- Loyal friend

- Shy and careful girl

BRIGHT STUDENT:

Kalpana was shy but cheerful girl with boundless energy and strong inclination for adventure. She impressed the people by her remarkable determination and strong sense of commitment to work and people. Kalpana sharp mind diligence always kept her among the first five, her fun - loving and energetic nature made her enjoying picnics. Kalpana respond with enthusiasm to any challenge as did when she learnt drive a car at fourteen.

FASCINATED BY AIRCRAFT:

Kalpana love making pictures and airplane model in her art and craft classes also love to watch trainer aircraft's land and take off. Her father once managed to arrange a few Joy rides at local flying club. In summer kalpana's favourite pastime time was watching sky. The site of milky and occasional shooting star would fill her mind with several basic questions.

WILLING NATURE TO CHOOSE DIFFICULT PATH:

Kalpana could have chance to choose easy path of being ground crew and stay in silicon valley and earn impressive salary without having risk of her life. It was indeal remarkable that Kalpana will turn towardy the more difficult and challenging option. She was very pleasant and unassuming person.

Kalpana was always ready to listen others. She was passion about dancing and so that she found a very do so. During the time between 1992 and 1994,Kalpana become a student of the "Abhinaya Dance Academy" in San Jose where she learnt Bharatanatyam.

        "Our planet is really only a

          very small part of the vast

                         universe."

HARD WORKER AND CONVINCING POWER:

Chawla family has conservative mind. However, Kalpana succeed in convincing her family for going outside for the study.

LOYAL FRIEND AND BELIEVED IN LASTING RELATIONSHIP:

Kalpana nevar forget people that she has been associated with. She took care to present, autographed , momentos and all the degrees. She has an intense yearning to give back a part what she had gained to society and to all those who had inspired her.

Kalpana got her involved in allowing to student from the school to visit NASA. Kalpana had made plan to sponsor a young student to visit university in South Africa. Kalpana firmly believed in witnessing, experiencing and reaching one's goals. She always use at to say,

            "Do something because

              you really want to do it.

             If you are doing it just for

             the goal and don't enjoy 

             the path, Then I think you

             are cheating yourself."

She had indeed travelled a great distance, both literary and figuratively. And she took the glory with a astounding calm and humidity.

NASA: Ames Research Centre:

Kalpana join the NASA Ames recharge centre in California.

WORK:

 1. The stimulation of complex air                           flows around aircraft such as                             Harrier in "ground effect".

2.  Vice president and research  scientist               with overset methods,Inc in the  silicon           valley in 1993.  Kalpana was put in                   change of developing and implementing         techniques for aerodynamic optimisation.

               

3. Related to the reproduction of                            the effect of the loss of gravity on                      body parts.

NASA - Space Centre:

NASA informed her about interview and medical evaluation that could lead her to the job of an astronaut. She was among the 122 aspiring astronauts chosen from a total of 2962 applications.

Kalpana become one of the nineteen candidates selected to be members of NASA 's 15th batch of astronauts. In 1995,March, Kalpana moved to Houston with JEAN-PIERRE,who had proved to be a supportive co-voyager. Tough training programme at the NASA centre.

                  Training Programme:

The training comprised an introduction to all NASA centres, instruction in land and sea survival as well as in operating aircraft. Further, there were months spent in high-fidelity simulators and under zero gravity conditions. 

The end of the 1995, Kalpana was selected as a crew representative in the NASA Astronaut Office Extra-vehicular Activity and Computer Branches where her work included testing space shuttle controls software.

STS-87 MISSION:

In November 1997, Kalpana was given the chance to go into space. She was to go into space as one of the six crew members on board the Columbia shuttle's STS-87 mission.

Kalpana selected as a mission specialist and represented the diverse scientific discipline of physics, chemistry, astrophysics, aerospace engineering, geology space science and computer science.Kalpana had a special space job. She used a big robotic arm to launch and control satellites. She also did experiments and went outside the spacecraft. She was a commander and pilot too and had to check on the shuttle system for any problems that could arise.

STS-107 MISSION:

She was selected as a true member for the STS-107 launch on the Columbia space shuttle. It was a 16 days mission. The purpose of mission was mainly to conduct research on micro-gravity. Kalpana conducted experiment on the Earth science, life science and physics science.

DEATH:

On February 1, 2003, the Columbia was ready to re enter the earth's atmosphere. Kalpana's family and friends were waiting at a Cape Canaveral. At height of 207,135 feet in the sky without warning all communication snapped. The white trail of shuttle streaking into the earth's atmosphere broke up into the series of white spots, with loud boom. The tragedy beyond the words occurred.The Columbia disintregrated while making its re entry into the earth's atmosphere. There was no survivors.

CONCLUSION:

Kalpana is remarkable  women with a rare combination of brilliant mind and human spirit. Kalpana's courage to dream unatainable thing and perseverance to achieve that lead her to meaningful life. She left behind an invaluable legacy. She will remain a part of the words heritage for the extraordinary will power and daring  that she showed in her attempt to reach for the stars.

 2. How did Kalpana's life take shape? Discuss her early life and reaching out to NASA.

 Kalpana Chawla's early life in Karnal, India, was marked by her exceptional academic achievements and a passion for flying. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College before pursuing her dream in the United States.

Kalpana moved to the U.S. in 1982, earning a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. Subsequently, she completed her Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado in 1988. Her dedication and intellect propelled her into the aerospace industry.

Her association with NASA began in 1988 when she started working at NASA Ames Research Center, focusing on fluid dynamics research. Kalpana made significant contributions to computational aeroelasticity and simulation technology.

Selected as an astronaut candidate in 1994, she underwent rigorous training, showcasing her adaptability and determination. In 1997, Kalpana achieved her dream of space travel on the Space Shuttle Columbia's STS-87 mission, conducting various experiments.

Tragically, her second spaceflight on STS-107 in 2003 ended in disaster, with the Columbia disintegrating upon re-entry. Kalpana Chawla's life and achievements continue to be remembered as a symbol of perseverance and the pursuit of dreams.

      

3. Discuss the social barriers and restrictions you have faced to date.

Navigating social rules can be like playing a tricky game. Society watches closely, restricting the freedom to enjoy late nights or go outside. Balancing personal desires with others' expectations isn't always easy. For girls, this journey involves moments of sacrifice for family emotions, sometimes leading to missed opportunities. It reveals the intricate dance between personal dreams and family duties, all influenced by societal norms.

4.Does Kalpana's life inspire you? How?

Yes, Kalpana's life inspire me a lot.

Kalpana Chawla's journey resonates deeply with me; her unwavering courage and determination, coupled with a pioneering spirit, serve as a constant source of inspiration. As the first woman of Indian origin in space, her legacy fuels my own aspirations, pushing me to embrace challenges, follow my passion, and consistently strive for excellence in every aspect of my life. Her remarkable achievements remind me that barriers can be overcome, and dreams can be realized through dedication and perseverance.