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KALPANA CHAWLA
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Born July 1, 1961 in Karnal,
India. Chawla received a bachelor of science degree in
aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College, India,
a master of science degree in aerospace engineering from the
University of Texas, and a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from
the University of Colorado. She was married to J.P. Harrison. |
Chawla was the prime
robotic arm operator on STS-87 in 1997, the fourth U. S. Microgravity
Payload flight. STS-87 focused on how the weightless environment of
space affects various physical processes.
In January 1998, Chawla was assigned as crew representative for shuttle
and station flight crew equipment, and subsequently served as lead for
the Astronaut Office’s Crew Systems and Habitability section.
Chawla was the flight engineer and mission specialist for STS-107
Columbia. The mission ended abruptly when Space Shuttle Columbia and its
crew perished during entry, 16 minutes before scheduled landing.
Kalpana Chawla made the ultimate sacrifice and lost her life in service
to the nation and the space program on February 1, 2003 at 41 years of
age.
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