Kalpana Chawla's Last Moments: Columbia Shuttle Disaster Shakes World

• February 1, 2003, marked a tragic day as the Columbia Space Shuttle disintegrated 16 minutes before landing, killing all seven astronauts, including Kalpana Chawla.
• Kalpana Chawla, born in Karnal, Haryana, pursued Aeronautical Engineering and joined NASA, fulfilling her childhood dream of space travel.
• Her first space flight in 1997 aboard the Columbia Space Shuttle (STS-87) made her the first Indian-origin woman in space, returning successfully.
• The fatal STS-107 mission in 2003 involved 80+ experiments, but a hole in the shuttle's left wing during re-entry caused its catastrophic breakup.
• Kalpana Chawla was posthumously awarded the 'Congressional Space Medal of Honor' and remains an inspiration globally.

Why It Matters: Kalpana Chawla's tragic final mission on the Columbia Shuttle cemented her legacy as an Indian space pioneer.