Question

Kalpana Chawla hardship faced

Answer 1

Kalpana Chawla (july 1, 1961 – February 1, 2003) was an American astronaut, engineer, and the first woman of Indian descent to go to space.[2][3] She first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. In 2003, Chawla was one of the seven crew members who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disasterwhen the spacecraft disintegrated during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.[4] Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor,[5] and several streets, universities and institutions have been named in her honor.[6][7][8] The late astronaut is recognized as a national hero in India.[9]