IFS officer Parveen Kaswan commemorated the birth anniversary of Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-origin woman astronaut, with a heartfelt tribute. Through a touching note and a colour sketch, Kaswan celebrated Chawla’s remarkable life and achievements, highlighting her legacy of determination and groundbreaking contributions to space exploration.
Kalpana Chawla’s journey began with groundbreaking achievements in academia, where she became the first woman to enroll in the aeronautical engineering course at Punjab Engineering College in 1978. Her relentless pursuit of knowledge led her to the University of Texas, where she continued to excel, laying the foundation for her historic tenure at NASA.
Joining NASA as an astronaut, Chawla embarked on her space odyssey with her inaugural mission aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997. Serving as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator, she etched her name in history as the first woman of Indian origin to venture into space, a milestone that inspired generations around the world.
