US President Donald Trump on Monday (30) called Indian-origin astronaut Kalpana Chawla as an American hero for being an inspiration to millions of girls.
“Indian American Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian descent to fly in space, and became an American hero for her devotion to the Space Shuttle programme and its various missions transporting cargo and crew to and from the International Space Station,” Trump said after issuing a proclamation declaring May as "Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month."
Chawla, the first Indian-origin in space, was part of the seven member crew who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003. For her contribution to the space programme, the Congress posthumously awarded her the Congressional Space Medal of Honour, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) posthumously awarded her the NASA Space Flight Medal and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.
“Ms Chawla’s courage and passion continue to serve as an inspiration for millions of American girls who dream of one day becoming astronauts,” said Trump.
Chawla was born in Punjab and wanted to become an aerospace engineer. She was influenced by watching the planes from the local flying clubs.
“Every once in a while, we’d ask my dad if we could get a ride in one of these planes. And, he did take us to the flying club and get us a ride in the Pushpak and a glider that the flying club had,” Chawla had said.
Chawla completed her degree in aeronautical engineering from the Punjab Engineering College in 1983, and moved to the United State of America to accomplish her dream of working with NASA. She attend graduate school at the University of Texas – Arlington and completed her master’s degree in aerospace engineering in 1984. Chawla completed her doctorate in aerospace engineering in 1988, following which she started her career with the American Space Agency.
Chawla was admired by all for her constant efforts to strive for perfection. Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger said in a NASA report, “She had a terrific sense of humor and loved flying small airplanes with her husband and loved flying in space. Flying was her passion. She would often remind her crew as her training flow would be delayed and become extended, she would say, ‘Man, you are training to fly in space. What more could you want?’”
Chawla was very excited about space odyssey and said the ascent, re-entry, and landing of the spacecraft were some of the most exciting moments of her space journey.
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution newspaper, shortly after her death in 2003, reported that she once told her brother Girish Chawla that she hoped she would die in a crash.
Bob Blackman MP speaks during the event