Kalpana Chawla

17 March 1962 – 1 February 2003

Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-born American astronaut and aerospace engineer, the first woman of Indian origin to fly in space. After earning a doctorate in aerospace engineering she joined NASA in 1988 and was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1994. She flew aboard Space Shuttle Columbia on STS-87 in 1997 and died with her six crewmates when Columbia broke up on re-entry in 2003.

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Life events

Born in Karnal, Haryana, India
17 March 1962

Born on 17 March 1962 in Karnal.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering
1982

She graduated from Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Moved to the United States for graduate study
1982 – 1984

She completed a master's degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Received a doctorate in aerospace engineering
1988

She earned her PhD from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Began work at NASA Ames Research Center
1988

She carried out computational fluid dynamics research on powered-lift aerodynamics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became a naturalized citizen of the United States
1991
Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Selected as a NASA astronaut candidate
December 1994

She joined NASA Astronaut Group 15 and reported for training in March 1995.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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First spaceflight aboard Columbia on STS-87
19 November 1997 – 5 December 1997

She served as mission specialist and robotic arm operator on the 15-day flight.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Launched on the STS-107 research mission
16 January 2003

Columbia lifted off on a 16-day microgravity science flight.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
1 February 2003

Columbia disintegrated during re-entry over Texas, killing all seven crew members.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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