An Indian-American Woman in Space: Kalpana Chawla

Summary of 'An Indian-American Woman in Space'

This chapter chronicles the life of Kalpana Chawla, the first woman of Indian origin to travel to space. Born in Karnal, Haryana, she defied conventional expectations from a young age. After graduating with a degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College, she moved to the United States for higher studies. Against her father's wishes, she pursued her Master's and later a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. Her dream of reaching the stars led her to join NASA in 1994. Her first space mission was in 1997 on the space shuttle Columbia, making her an inspiration for millions. The chapter also details her second and final mission in 2003, also aboard Columbia. Tragically, the shuttle disintegrated upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, leading to the loss of Kalpana and her six crewmates. Despite the sad ending, the chapter celebrates her life, her message of courage, and her legacy as a 'naturalised U.S. citizen' who never forgot her Indian roots.

Timeline of Key Events in Kalpana Chawla's Life

1. Early Life and Education in India — Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal, Haryana. She completed her schooling there and then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College.
2. Journey to the United States — To pursue her dream, she moved to the U.S. and obtained her Master of Science degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. She then earned a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder.
3. Joining NASA — In 1994, Kalpana Chawla was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate. This was the moment her dream of becoming an astronaut started turning into reality.
4. First Space Mission (1997) — Her first flight was on the space shuttle Columbia (STS-87). She flew as a mission specialist and robotic arm operator. During this mission, she travelled over 10.4 million miles and circled the Earth 252 times.
5. The Final Mission (2003) — She was selected for her second mission on the space shuttle Columbia (STS-107). On 1 February 2003, the shuttle broke apart while re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, tragically killing all seven crew members.

Character Sketch of Kalpana Chawla

Tips for Answering Questions

When answering comprehension questions from this chapter, always start by reading the question carefully to understand what is being asked. Go back to the text to find the specific part that contains the answer. Don't just copy the sentence! Try to frame the answer in your own words. For questions about Kalpana's character, use words like 'determined', 'brave', and 'inspirational' and support your points with examples from her life mentioned in the chapter. For factual questions (like dates or names), make sure your information is accurate.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Where was Kalpana Chawla born? Why is she called an Indian-American?
  A: Step 1: Identify the two parts of the question: her birthplace and the reason she is called an Indian-American.
  Step 2: Recall from the text that she was born in Karnal, Haryana, in India.
  Step 3: Recall that she went to the United States for her higher studies, married an American flight instructor, and became a naturalised U.S. citizen.
  Final answer: Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal, Haryana, India. She is called an Indian-American because she was born in India but later became a naturalised citizen of the United States of America.

• Q: What were Kalpana Chawla's achievements in her first space mission?
  A: Step 1: Locate the details about her first mission in the chapter.
  Step 2: Note down the key facts and figures mentioned. The mission was on the space shuttle Columbia, flight STS-87.
  Step 3: List her accomplishments during this 15-day, 16-hour, and 34-minute mission.
  Final answer: In her first space mission, Kalpana Chawla travelled 10.45 million kilometres, orbiting the Earth 252 times. She served as a mission specialist and robotic arm operator.

• Q: What message did Kalpana Chawla send from the space shuttle to students in India?
  A: Step 1: Remember the part of the text where Kalpana communicates with students from her college in Chandigarh.
  Step 2: Identify the core of her message.
  Step 3: Paraphrase the message in your own words, ensuring the main idea is clear.
  Final answer: From aboard the space shuttle Columbia, Kalpana Chawla sent a message to the students of her college in Chandigarh, encouraging them to follow their dreams. She said that the path from dreams to success does exist, and one must have the vision and courage to get onto it.

• Q: The chapter describes 'frontiers of space' as a key idea for Kalpana. What does this phrase mean?
  A: Step 1: Understand the word 'frontier'. It means a border or the edge of a settled area.
  Step 2: Apply this meaning to 'space'. 'Frontiers of space' refers to the unknown and unexplored regions of space.
  Step 3: Explain why this was important to Kalpana. It represented the ultimate challenge and a field of endless discovery that she was passionate about exploring.
  Final answer: The phrase 'frontiers of space' refers to the boundaries and unexplored areas of outer space. For Kalpana Chawla, it represented the ultimate field of exploration and discovery. She was not just interested in flying; she was driven to push the limits of human knowledge and explore these unknown frontiers.

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