A diligent person never deviates from goals. Nothing is impossible for a person. Those who depend on luck can never do anything new. History is a witness, in the world, who overcame crises and did something new, achieved the climax of fame and honour. Kalpana Chawla, born in a middle-class family in Karnal, a small town in Haryana, created a similar history.
She used to dream of stars since childhood. She became the first Indian woman to go into space due to her strong willpower, sharp intelligence, unwavering confidence and continued hard work, despite the disastrous economic situation of the displaced family after the tragedy of Partition.
More remarkable is that she was selected for space travel twice.
Long and Short Essay on Kalpana Chawla in English
Essay on Kalpana Chawla has been provided below in different word limits for perusal of our avid readers who wants to know about Kalpana Chawla. Through these essays you will know about her childhood, early education, move to the US for higher education, achievements and fulfillment of the dream seen by her in her childhood.
These Kalpana Chawla essays are also useful for students to write on Kalpana’s biography and essays. They may select any of these essays according to their need and standard. Following essays will definitely provide infinite inspiration for all age groups, especially youths and those who are trying to do something special in life.
In these Kalpana Chawla Essay, we have presented a live depiction of a woman, which is an inspirational example for all of us, to make continuous effort, stay focused and reach our goals.
Kalpana Chawla Essay – 1 (200 Words)
Kalpana Chawla was born on 17th March, 1962 in Karnal, India. She started aeronautical engineering course from Punjab Engineering College in 1980 before settling in the US as a permanent resident.
She then did aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado in 1988, obtaining a master’s degree from the University of Texas. She worked as a vice president at the AIIMS Research Center and worked on power lifts and computational fluid dynamics.
In 1994, she was selected as an astronaut candidate. After training she became a crew representative for the astronaut office Robotics and Computer branches, worked with the Robotic Situational Awareness Display and tested software for the Space Shuttle.
In 1997, flight STS-87 had its first space mission. She traveled 1.04 million kilometers on that mission in the spacecraft and completed 80 experiments. The spacecraft traveled 252 orbits of the Earth in 2 weeks.
It was her second mission on STS-107 in 2003. But that flight met with an accident and while returning, the space shuttle exploded. On that fateful date of 1st February 2003 she died on that spacecraft along with 6 other astronauts.
She will always be remembered as one of the earliest women who went so far in making the country proud. In her memory, many institutions in India are named after her.
Kalpana Chawla Essay – 2 (300 Words)
Kalpana Chawla was born on 17th March, 1962 in Karnal district of Haryana. She is the first Indian-American woman to go into space. In her childhood in India, she was inspired by India’s first pilot JRD Tata and always dreamed of flying. She did her schooling from Tagore School in Punjab, Karnal and later studied aeronautical engineering from Punjab University.
She moved to America to give wings to her aeronautical dream. After receiving a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas in 1984, four years later, Dr. Chawla earned a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado.
Kalpana Chawla was a certified flight instructor for airplanes, gliders and commercial aircraft licenses. She was also licensed as a commercial operator for single and multi engine aircraft.
Before becoming an astronaut, she was a renowned NASA scientist. She started working at NASA’s AIIMS Research Center. Soon, Chawla became an American citizen and married Jean-Pierre Harrison, an independent flight instructor. He also took a keen interest in flying, hiking, gliding, traveling and reading. Jean-Pierre Harrison loved flying aerobatics, tail-wheel airplanes.
Chawla joined NASA’s space program in 1994 and her first mission in space began on November 19, 1997, as part of a 6-astronaut crew aboard the space shuttle Columbia Flight STS-87. She entered space for over 375 hours, as he traveled 1.04 million kilometers in 252 orbits of the Earth during her first flight.
While on the ship, she was in-charge of correcting the Spartan Satellite malfunction as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. The tragedy brought her illustrious carrier to an end as Chawla was one of seven crew members killed in the 2003 space shuttle Columbia disaster.
Kalpana Chawla remains a shining example of how passion, dedication and hard work can bring success in life and is an inspiration. Millions of women around the world aspire to reach new heights.
Kalpana Chawla Essay – 2 (400 Words)
Introduction
Kalpana was very talented from childhood and her hobby was to become a successful astronaut since her childhood. Kalpana’s father had a desire that she will become a doctor or teacher. But seeing her imagination to go into space and read about space, her parents helped her to fulfill her dream. Kalpana Chawla was fond of drawing space and airplanes in her free time since childhood.
Education
Kalpana Chawla completed her schooling at Tagore Public School, Karnal. She got admission in DAV College after her board examination. She completed her further education from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh.
Due to lack of higher education in India at that time, she moved to the United States of America in 1982 and there she obtained her Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1984. She also received her doctorate degree in aerospace from the University of Colorado, America.
Career
After receiving her doctorate, Kalpana Chawla got an opportunity to join NASA’s Johnson Research Center. There she did research on CFD (computational Fluid Dynamics) in V/STOL (Vertical and/or short take-off and landing). Kalpana Chawla joined NASA’s Astronaut Corps in March 1995.
Kalpana Chawla’s First Space Mission
Kalpana Chawla is said to have never been afraid to face challenges since childhood. Kalpana was selected for her first space trip in 1996. Her first space mission began on 2nd May, 1997, with six other astronauts along with the space shuttle Columbia.
In her first mission on STS-87, she made a journey of 1.04 million Kilometers, taken 252 revolutions of the earth and spent 372 hours in space. Kalpana was very happy with her space journey. After returning from her space journey, she used to talk with her colleagues about her unique stories on this journey.
Kalpana Chawla’s Second Space Mission
In 2000, Kalpana was selected for another space mission. In the journey, she became part of the team of STS-107. But this mission was constantly delayed due to some technical failure in the spacecraft.
Chawla’s second space mission proved to be his last space mission. Despite much deliberation and technical scrutiny, God had some other approval for this mission.
On February 1, 2003, while returning to this mission, a terrible and unwanted event took place while entering the Earth’s atmosphere due to technical problems in the spacecraft, which shook the entire world.
In this accident, the whole team of other six people along with Kalpana died suddenly. The entire world was shocked and lost seven hardworking and successful astronauts in an instant. In this mission, Chawla’s team succeeded in doing more than 80 tests in space.
Conclusion
Kalpana Chawla was an icon of hard work and courage. She has also left a deep arc in space due to her hard work and strong confidence. Whenever there will be a talk about spacecraft or space travel in the whole world, Kalpana Chawla’s name will be remembered.
Kalpana Chawla Essay – 3 (500 Words)
Introduction
A person born on this earth has to leave it one day or another but some people go by registering their name in the history. Kalpana Chawla is one of them. She was the first Indian woman who visited space two times in her life.
Family Life
Kalpana Chawla was born on 17th March, 1962 in Karnal village in Haryana. Her father used to trade nylon in his village and mother was a housewife and religious by nature. She was the youngest in her siblings.
Primary Education
Kalpana completed her primary education from Balniketan Primary School, Karnal. In 1982, she received the title of Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Vidyapeeth, Chandigarh. Later she shifted to the US and completed her master course and PhD in 1988 from the University of Colorado.
Marriage
In 1973 she met and married Jean Pierre Harrison, a flying instructor and aviation writer, and became a naturalized United States citizen in the year 1990.
Her Mission to Space
In December 1994, she was selected as a candidate for astronaut training by NASA and completed her training in the 15th group of astronauts in Johnson Space Center in March 1995.
In 1996, she got the chance to travel into space on Columbia STS-87 with six other astronauts. There they traveled 1.04 million Kilometers in space and rotated the earth 252 times spending 372 hours in space.
On 16th January 2003, she entered into space second time with 6 other astronauts by space shuttle Columbia STS-107 that was planned to return back after a journey of 16 days at Johnson Space Center, Florida. All the crew members were engaged in their pre-planned tasks and experimented in the space.
On its return journey, due to some mechanical fault the space shuttle burst into fire just above 63 kilometers from the earth while it touched the earth’s atmosphere at a velocity of 20,000 Km/Hr. The last words on Telemeter of Mission Commander were – …..Rojar aah bu… .. . But I. And everything was lost, the talented scientist, the Indian girl, the space shuttle everything. The entire world was amazed hearing this news.
The scientists who lost their lives with Kalpana Chawla were:
- Rick Husband: The commander of the mission.
- William C. McCool: The pay load pilot of the mission.
- David M. Brown: Mission specialist and flight surgeon.
- Laurel Clark: The mission specialist, flight surgeon and the female counterpart of Kalpana.
- Michael P. Anderson: Scientist and payload pilot.
- Alan Ramon: The first astronaut from Israel.
Awards and Honours
Kalpana has been awarded by many medals posthumously and is honoured with respect all across the world. She was a recipient of Congress Space Medal, NASA Space Flight Medal and NASA Distinguished Service Medal.
“Kalpana Chawla Smriti Graduate Scholarship” has been launched by the Indian Student Association in 2005 for intelligent Indian students.
- On 5th February, the P.M. of India named India’s aerodynamic satellite – Kalpana.
- New York City’s Jackson Heights Queen’s road was named after Kalpana.
- Karnataka government as instituted a special award for young women scientists in the memory of Kalpana Chawla.
Conclusion
Considering the contribution of Kalpana Chawla the Government of India has declared that all the weather satellites will be named after her name that will be send by ISRO into the space. The secondary board of education has also announced scholarship with the name of Kalpana to motivate the younger generation in this field.
Kalpana Chawla Essay – 5 (600 Words)
Introduction
Everyone dreams of reaching a point but there are rare people who can fulfill their dreams. Kalpana Chawla is one such name who not only dreamed but also fulfilled them and set an example for others. Born on 17th March, 1962, in Karnal, Haryana, Kalpana was fondly called “Monto” at home.
She Had a Special Relationship with the Stars since Childhood
Kalpana traveled to space two times but her attachment to the world of stars was since childhood. In childhood, when everyone of the house slept on the terrace, Kalpana would watch the stars for hours. Not only this, her inclination towards the stars can also be understood from the facts that once all children in made a map of India on the floor and that time Kalpana used the classroom ceiling with the help of black chart paper and bright dots decorated like stars.
Unknowingly Predicted her Future
While explaining the null set concept in class of Algebra, when she was in class 10, the teacher gave the example that female astronaut is the perfect example for null set. At that time Kalpana whispered; who knows, one day they would not be empty. At that time, hardly anyone in the whole class would have imagined that Kalpana herself would become the first Indian woman to go into space.
Kalpana was Sure of Intentions
When Kalpana decided to join engineering course after 12th, she was strongly opposed by her father as he wanted that she would join a medical course or become a teacher. Eventually he had to accept Kalpana’s will. When she wanted to join aeronautical engineering course in college, the teachers started forbidding her to do so. Once again Kalpana listened to her heart and became the only student of her class of this course.
Visited the United States and Started the Journey
To fulfill her dream, she moved to the US after graduation and studied post-graduation in aeronautical engineering from the University of Texas. In 1988, Kalpana Chawla received her PhD in the field of aeronautics from the University of Colorado.
She joined the US space agency NASA and started working in AIIMS Research Center. While working there, Kalpana took US citizenship and married Jean Pierre Harrison.
The Dream Became True
The year 1996 brought spring to her dream and she was selected as a team member of the space mission by NASA. It was 19th November when the US space shuttle Columbia STS-87 started its journey to space with Kalpana Chawla and 6 other astronauts. Kalpana became the first female astronaut by this trip. She had spent 372 hours in space during this flight.
Kalpana traveled second time on 16th January 2003 in a spacecraft, Columbia STS-107 from Kennedy Space Center. There were seven astronauts in this flight who had done many experiments during their stay in space and found new kinds of bacteria there.
The Mishap of the Journey
While returning from space, a briefcase-shaped piece of insulation that controls the heat was broken and damaged the shuttle’s thermal protection system, and this space shuttle turn into ashes just after entering into earth’s orbit and the world has lost its seven talented scientists. At that time the speed of vehicle was 20000 km/hour. The wreckage was found near the US city of Texas.
Conclusion
Kalpana Chawla is a great role model for the youth and especially for women. She showed to the world that women are never considered less. The journey from the small city of Karnal to space is nothing short of inspiration. India named its first weather satellite Kalpana I in honour of this great Indian astronaut.
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