Published By: Sayan Paul

Kalpana Chawla's Death Anniversary: The Late Astronaut Was Passionate For Everything From Poetry To Karate

Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian origin to fly to space. However, there was much more to her than her space career.

"When you look at the sky and the galaxy, you feel that you are not just from any particular piece of land, but from the solar system." - Kalpana Chawla.

Kalpana Chawla was immensely fascinated by the outer space even during her childhood. But when she expressed her interest in studying aerospace engineering, she was immediately dismissed by society that said "only guys want to do these kinds of things". But she knew that only the sky was her limit, not the society. And hence, she stood strong in the face of adversity, pushed her own limits, and overcame all obstacles that came her way. And eventually, she did touch the sky (quite literally), becoming the first woman of Indian origin to fly into space.

(Credit: WOMENSART)

An Indian-born American astronaut and aerospace engineer, Chawla was one of the seven crew members who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003. As we celebrate her legacy on her 22nd death anniversary, it's also important to acknowledge that she was a woman of many talents. While aerospace engineering or space exploration was her first love, her passions extended far beyond her core field.

Kalpana Chawla Was Passionate For Everything From Poetry To Karate

The common perception is that art and science are separated from each other. However, the two are actually intertwined, with each one fueling the other. During the ancient era, art was viewed as a part of science, and vice versa. That's why many great scientists (including Albert Einstein) have been passionate about art as well.

Coming to the point, the same was true for Kalpana Chawla as well. During her childhood, she was equally passionate about art, especially poetry, songs, and dance.

In fact, not many know that she was a poet and often used to write poetry in her free time. Among all that she wrote, the following one is quite popular. She wrote it in 1980 to her friend, and titled it ‘Toward the Goal’.

"Dive deep down

An aim awaits

Pearls peep

For your hands to reach

Just yours

For years, decades, and ages

A door lies locked

A pearl in the shell

A secret in the brain

Open it

Break it

Reveal it

Fly high"

Besides poetry, she was fond of music as well. She spent her free time listening to various kinds of songs, and - although not a trained singer - would often sing. Moreover, she was a regular participant in her school's dance performances.

And it doesn't end here. She was into sports as well, practicing everything from cycling to running to badminton. Also, she learned karate and received a black belt.

About Kalpana Chawla's Journey To Space

Chawla did her schooling at Tagore Baal Niketan Senior Secondary School, Karnal, and then earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, India. Thereafter, she moved to the US to pursue a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas, Arlington. Later, she received her PhD from the University of Colorado Boulder.

(Credit: Gujarat Science Mission)

In 1988, she joined NASA's Ames Research Center, where she conducted computational fluid dynamics research on vertical and short take-off and landing (V/STOL) concepts. Then she joined Overset Methods in California, as a research scientist. Meanwhile, she applied for the NASA Astronaut Corps and was selected for her first flight in 1997. 

(Credit: Ministry of Education)

On November 19, 1998, she embarked on her first space mission as part of the Space Shuttle Columbia Flight STS-87. Thus, she became the first woman of Indian origin to fly into space.