1 Feb 2003: "Stars Never Fade: Kalpana Chawla Remembered on Her Death Anniversary"

On this solemn day, we commemorate the death anniversary of Indian-born American astronaut Kalpana Chawla, an extraordinary woman whose dreams soared beyond the skies. On February 1, 2003, the world mourned as the Space Shuttle Columbia tragically disintegrated upon re-entry, claiming the lives of seven astronauts, including Chawla.

Kalpana Chawla was born on March 17, 1962, in Karnal, Haryana, India. She pursued her passion for aerospace engineering and earned a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Chawla made history as the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She joined NASA in 1995 and flew her first space mission as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997. Tragically, on February 1, 2003, during the re-entry of the Space Shuttle Columbia, the spacecraft disintegrated, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members, including Chawla.

Chawla's indomitable spirit and unwavering dedication to her craft made her an inspiration to aspiring scientists and dreamers worldwide. In her memory, educational initiatives and scholarships have been established to encourage young minds to pursue careers in science and space exploration. These efforts aim to keep alive the spark that fueled Chawla's dreams, inspiring future generations to reach for the skies.