Karina Sharma
Born in Karnal, Haryana, in 1961, Kalpana always dreamed of touching the skies.
She chose her own name, ‘Kalpana,’ which means imagination, symbolizing her limitless aspirations.
After earning her aerospace engineering degree in India, she moved to the USA to pursue her space dreams at NASA.
In 1997, she became the first Indian-origin woman in space aboard Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-87).
A trained pilot, Kalpana held multiple pilot licenses, including for seaplanes and gliders.
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On February 1, 2003, the Columbia shuttle disintegrated on re-entry. But Kalpana's legacy lives on forever.
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