Prose 4 - The Sky is the Limit

https://www.news18.com/photogallery/india/remembering-kalpana-chawla-the-lady-who-touched-the-sky-2021453.html

Kalpana Chawla was born in 1962, in Haryana. She was from a humble background and her parents had to work very hard to keep the household going. Despite all the hardships, they encouraged their children to get a good education. Haryana was not a state that favoured education for women. Yet, Kalpana found herself at school, studying all subjects keenly, but being fascinated with science. Years later, she studied aeronautical engineering in Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, where she was reportedly discouraged from taking up an option that had few job opportunities. However, she went ahead with her choice. Later, she settled down in America and worked at NASA. She eventually became an astronaut as she had always dreamt of. Additionally, she became the first Indian-origin woman to enter space. She has proved that if one is committed and dedicated, then the sky is the limit. She continued to encourage students in India through emails and even set up a program to get two children from India to visit NASA each year. Though she died young, her legacy continues. She has inspired the youth of India, especially women, who are often denied an education. Kalpana did her schooling from Karnal and then went on to pursue a course in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. She went to the United States in 1892 where she pursued a Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas and then a doctorate in aerospace engineering from University of Colorado. She became a naturalized US Citizen in 1991. She began working at the NASA Ames Research Centre in 1988 and then joined the corps in March 1995. She is the first Indian-born woman to fly to space. The mission began on November 19, 1997, and her first flight shuttle that included Kalpana along with 5 other astronaut crew was on Space Shuttle Columbia. She was also the second Indian to ever fly in space. Kalpana’s second flight in 2003, was also her last. Kalpana’s second flight that was a part of the crew of STS-107, was launched in 2003. After completing 16 day in space, the space shuttle collapsed over Texas while trying to enter into Earth’s atmosphere. Kalpana was the winner of multiple accolades. She was posthumously honoured with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, NASA Space Flight Medal, and NASA Distinguished Service Medal. In a country and at a time where women were born to get married, she chose to dream high and fly high (literally). The Kalpana Chawla Award was instituted by the Government of Karnataka in 2004 to recognize young women scientists.