Astronaut Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist (January 1, 1995; Johnson Space Center, TX; NASA)

A Story of Unwavering Courage

Kalpana Chawla became an emblem of inspiration for countless Indian women. Hailing from Karnal, she was an ordinary girl with extraordinary aspirations. Despite facing numerous challenges, her unwavering determination and unyielding courage propelled her to reach for the stars and become an astronaut, ultimately venturing into space. After her first flight in 1997, Chawla said, "When you look at the stars and the galaxy, you feel that you are not just from any particular piece of land, but from the solar system."

A Tragedy in Space

Tragically, on February 1, 2003, seven NASA astronauts perished over Texas as Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107 disintegrated while re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere. One of those killed in the disaster was Chawla. This event shook the entire world, and the memory of her bravery and contributions to space exploration remain in the aerospace community today.

Remembering Kalpana Chawla

Shortly after the Columbia accident, scientists named seven asteroids after each crew member as a "celestial memorial." To mark the first anniversary of the disaster, NASA also named seven hills on Mars for the lost crew.  And in October of 2020, a commercial cargo spacecraft named after Chawla launched to the International Space Station (ISS). Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus capsule was named the S.S. Kalpana Chawla, as it is the company’s policy to dedicate their Cygnus capsules to someone who has played a pivotal role in human spaceflight.

"Chawla was selected in honor of her prominent place in history as the first woman of Indian descent to go to space," shared Northrop Grumman officials.

Chawla's legacy continues to inspire countless individuals around the world, including our design team at Cedar & Moss. Our Kalpana Moon fixture is lovingly named after Chawla's passion and dedication to space exploration.