Kalpana Chawla

American astronaut
Person human Q237879
Kalpana Chawla
NASA · Public Domain · Wikimedia
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Kalpana Chawla was born on March 17, 1962, in Karnal[1][2] and died on February 1, 2003, in Texas[1][2]. She held citizenship in both India and the United States and practiced Hinduism. Her education included Tagore Baal Niketan Sr. Sec. School, Karnal, Punjab Engineering College, the University of Texas at Arlington, and the University of Colorado Boulder[2]. She was ultimately buried at Zion National Park.

Professionally, she worked as a military flight engineer, astronaut, and amateur radio operator[2]. Her specialized field was computational fluid dynamics. She was employed by the Ames Research Center starting in 1988, Overset Methods, Inc. starting in 1993, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration starting in 1995[2].

Throughout her career, she received multiple awards, including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Space Flight Medal, and the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class[3][4].

Kalpana Chawla

Summary

Kalpana Chawla is a human[1]. Born in Karnal[2], she… she was born on March 17, 1962[3]. She died in Texas[4]. She died on February 1, 2003[5]. She worked as a military flight engineer[6], astronaut[7], and amateur radio operator[8]. She ranks in the top 0.54% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (5,831 views/month, #5,401 of 1,000,298).[9]

Key Facts

  • Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal[2].
  • Kalpana Chawla died in Texas[4].
  • Kalpana Chawla was born on March 17, 1962[3].
  • Kalpana Chawla died on February 1, 2003[5].
  • Kalpana Chawla is buried at Zion National Park[10].
  • Burial took place at Arlington National Cemetery[11].
  • Kalpana Chawla held citizenship in India[12].
  • Kalpana Chawla held citizenship in United States[13].
  • Kalpana Chawla's professions included military flight engineer[6].
  • Kalpana Chawla worked as an astronaut[7].
  • Kalpana Chawla's professions included amateur radio operator[8].
  • Kalpana Chawla's field of work was computational fluid dynamics[14].
  • Among Kalpana Chawla's employers was National Aeronautics and Space Administration[15].
  • Kalpana Chawla was employed by Ames Research Center[16].
  • Among Kalpana Chawla's employers was Overset Methods, Inc.[17].
  • Kalpana Chawla's education included a stint at Punjab Engineering College[18].
  • Kalpana Chawla's education included a stint at University of Colorado Boulder[19].
  • Kalpana Chawla's education included a stint at Tagore Baal Niketan Sr. Sec. School, Karnal[20].
  • Kalpana Chawla was educated at University of Texas at Arlington[21].
  • Kalpana Chawla's education included a stint at University of Colorado Boulder[22].
  • Kalpana Chawla received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor[23].
  • Kalpana Chawla received the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class[24].
  • Kalpana Chawla received the NASA Space Flight Medal[25].
  • Kalpana Chawla received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal[26].
  • Kalpana Chawla's religion is recorded as Hinduism[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in Karnal[2], Kalpana Chawla… she was born on March 17, 1962[3].

Education

Educated at Punjab Engineering College[18], an engineering college[28], in India[29], founded in 1921[30]; University of Colorado Boulder[19], a public university[31], in United States[32], founded in 1876[33]; Tagore Baal Niketan Sr. Sec. School, Karnal[20], a private school[34], in India[35], founded in 1963[36]; and University of Texas at Arlington[21], a public research university[37], in United States[38], founded in 1895[39], headquartered in Arlington[40].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include military flight engineer[6], astronaut[7], and amateur radio operator[8]. Kalpana Chawla's field of work was computational fluid dynamics[14]. Employers include National Aeronautics and Space Administration[15], a space agency[41], in United States[42], founded in 1958[43], headquartered in Washington, D.C.[44]; Ames Research Center[16], a NASA facility[45], in United States[46], founded in 1939[47]; and Overset Methods, Inc.[17].

Recognition

Awards received include Congressional Space Medal of Honor[23], a medallion[48], in United States[49], founded in 1969[50]; Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class[24], a grade of an order[51], in Ukraine[52], founded in 1996[53]; NASA Space Flight Medal[25], a medallion[54], in United States[55], founded in 1981[56]; and NASA Distinguished Service Medal[26], a medallion[57], in United States[58], founded in 1959[59].

Personal Life

Kalpana Chawla's religion is recorded as Hinduism[27].

Death and Burial

Kalpana Chawla died on February 1, 2003[5]. She passed away in Texas[4]. Recorded place of burial include Zion National Park[10] and Arlington National Cemetery[11].

Works and Contributions

Things named for Kalpana Chawla include Kalpana-1[60], a communications satellite[61], in India[62]; Cygnus NG-14[63], a Cygnus Enhanced[64], in United States[65]; Kalpana Chawla Award[66], an award[67], in India[68], founded in 2004[69]; Kalpana Chawla Outstanding Recent Alumni Award[70], an award[71], in United States[72], founded in 1982[73]; Kalpana Chawla Excellence Award[74], an award[75], in India[76]; and Chawla[77], a lunar crater[78].

Why It Matters

Kalpana Chawla ranks in the top 0.54% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (5,831 views/month, #5,401 of 1,000,298).[9] She has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[79] She is known by 5 alternative names across languages and contexts.[80]

Entities named for her include Kalpana-1[60], a communications satellite[61], in India[62]; Cygnus NG-14[63], a Cygnus Enhanced[64], in United States[65]; Kalpana Chawla Award[66], an award[67], in India[68], founded in 2004[69]; Kalpana Chawla Outstanding Recent Alumni Award[70], an award[71], in United States[72], founded in 1982[73]; Kalpana Chawla Excellence Award[74], an award[75], in India[76]; and Chawla[77], a lunar crater[78].

FAQs

Where was Kalpana Chawla born?

Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal[2].

Where did Kalpana Chawla die?

Kalpana Chawla passed away in Texas[4].

What did Kalpana Chawla do for work?

Kalpana Chawla worked as military flight engineer[6], astronaut[7], and amateur radio operator[8].

Where did Kalpana Chawla go to school?

Kalpana Chawla was educated at Punjab Engineering College[18], University of Colorado Boulder[19], Tagore Baal Niketan Sr. Sec. School, Karnal[20], and University of Texas at Arlington[21].

What awards did Kalpana Chawla receive?

Honors received include Congressional Space Medal of Honor[23], Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class[24], NASA Space Flight Medal[25], and NASA Distinguished Service Medal[26].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . history.nasa.gov. Retrieved . history.nasa.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . wikidata.org.
  3. [12] . wikidata.org.
  4. [13] . wikidata.org.
  5. [18] . wikidata.org.
  6. [19] . wikidata.org.
  7. [20] . history.nasa.gov. Retrieved . history.nasa.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  8. [21] . history.nasa.gov. Retrieved . history.nasa.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  9. [22] . history.nasa.gov. Retrieved . history.nasa.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  10. [14] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [6] . history.nasa.gov. Retrieved . history.nasa.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  12. [7] . history.nasa.gov. Retrieved . history.nasa.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  13. [8] . wikidata.org.
  14. [15] . wikidata.org.
  15. [16] . history.nasa.gov. Retrieved . history.nasa.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  16. [17] . history.nasa.gov. Retrieved . history.nasa.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  17. [10] . wikidata.org.
  18. [11] . Find a Grave. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  19. [27] . wikidata.org.
  20. [23] . nasa.gov. nasa.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  21. [24] . wikidata.org.
  22. [25] . wikidata.org.
  23. [26] . searchpub.nssc.nasa.gov. searchpub.nssc.nasa.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  24. [3] . Find a Grave. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  25. [5] . Find a Grave. Retrieved . history.nasa.gov. Provenance: wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [60] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [63] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [66] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [70] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [74] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [77] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [52] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [59] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [64] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [65] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [67] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [68] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [69] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [71] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [73] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [75] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  44. [76] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  45. [78] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [9] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [79] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [80] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

📑 Cite this page

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Kalpana Chawla. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/kalpana-chawla
MLA “Kalpana Chawla.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 10 Apr. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/kalpana-chawla.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_kalpana-chawla_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Kalpana Chawla}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/kalpana-chawla}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-10}}
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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 17d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-19 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Local thumb
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32081|batch #32081]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (23)"
  2. 4w ago · ZI Jony · 2026-05-04 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Astronaut mission STS-107, STS-87
    "/* wbsetqualifier-add:1| */ [[Property:P1545]]: 2, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/257287|batch #257287]]"
  3. 4w ago · ZI Jony · 2026-05-02 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Topic's main category Category:Kalpana Chawla
    Place of burial Zion National Park, Arlington National Cemetery
    Occupation military flight engineer, astronaut, amateur radio operator
    Employer National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center, Overset Methods, Inc.
    + 30 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbremoveclaims-remove:1| */ [[Property:P450]]: [[Q178836]], [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/257207|batch #257207]]"
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