Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Remembering Kalpana Chawla on her 56th birth anniversary

Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian woman in space, would have turned 56 today if she were alive. Chawla died following the  fateful accident on February 1, 2003 when Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon its entry to the earth's atmosphere. Chawla died along with six other astronauts.

Chawla was born in Punjab and wanted to become an aerospace engineer. She was influenced by watching the planes from the local flying clubs.


"Every once in a while, we'd ask my dad if we could get a ride in one of these planes. And, he did take us to the flying club and get us a ride in the Pushpak and a glider that the flying club had," Chawla had said.

Chawla completed her degree in aeronautical engineering from the Punjab Engineering College in 1983,  and moved to the United State of America to accomplish her dream of working with NASA. She attend graduate school at the University of Texas - Arlington and completed her master's degree in aerospace engineering in 1984. Chawla completed her doctorate in aerospace engineering in 1988, following which she started her career with the American Space Agency.

Chawla was admired by all for her constant efforts to strive for perfection. Astronaut Office Chief Kent Rominger said in a NASA report, “She had a terrific sense of humor and loved flying small airplanes with her husband and loved flying in space. Flying was her passion. She would often remind her crew as her training flow would be delayed and become extended, she would say, ‘Man, you are training to fly in space. What more could you want?'”

Chawla was very excited about space odyssey and said the ascent, re-entry, and landing of the spacecraft were some of the most exciting moments of her space journey.

The Atlanta Journal and Constitution newspaper, shortly after her death in 2003, reported that she once told her brother Girish Chawla that she hoped she would die in a crash.

More For You

UK-snow-Getty

A car is driven along the snow-covered Woodhead pass between Woodhead and Homlfirth, in the Peak District in northern England on January 7. (Photo: Getty Images)

Record cold expected as flood warnings persist

THE COUNTRY is experiencing a spell of wintry weather, with temperatures expected to drop significantly over the next two days, potentially reaching as low as -20 degrees Celsius in some areas.

The BBC reported that weather forecasters predict the coldest nights of the year, following heavy snowfall over the weekend.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sanghera: Enablers let abuse flourish at Harrods and Church
Jasvinder Sanghera (Photo by Jon Bond - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Sanghera: Enablers let abuse flourish at Harrods and Church

A PROMINENT British Asian campaigner against forced marriages and abuse, has spoken out about her recent work tackling two major British institutional abuse cases, while reflecting on her own journey from surviving honour abuse to becoming a national advocate for victims.

Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, who currently serves as an independent advocate for nearly 300 people who have accused former Harrods owner Mohamed Fayed of abuse, says the department store case reveals a pattern of enablers.

Keep ReadingShow less
india-us-nuclear-talks

India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, in Delhi. (Photo: ANI)

India, US advance talks on civil nuclear cooperation

THE UNITED STATES is finalising steps to clear hurdles for civil nuclear partnership with Indian firms, US national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, said on Monday (6), seeking to give fresh momentum to a landmark deal between the two countries.

Washington and New Delhi have been discussing the supply of US nuclear reactors to energy-hungry India since the mid-2000s.

Keep ReadingShow less
tulip-siddiq-city-minister
Tulip Siddiq

Tulip Siddiq self-refers to ethics watchdog over property claims

TREASURY minister Tulip Siddiq has asked the prime minister's ethics watchdog to examine claims about her use of two London flats, amid growing questions about property arrangements linked to her family's connections in Bangladesh.

The minister, who oversees anti-corruption efforts in Britain's financial sector, has stepped back from a planned China visit to assist with the inquiry.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tibet-quake-Reuters

The earthquake, which struck Dingri County near the Nepal border, was recorded at a magnitude of 6.8 by the China Earthquake Networks Center. (Photo: Reuters)

Earthquake in Tibet kills 95, tremors felt in Nepal and India

AT LEAST 95 people were killed and many buildings collapsed after a powerful earthquake struck China's Tibet region on Tuesday, state media reported. The tremors were also felt in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu and parts of India.

Videos shared by state broadcaster CCTV showed buildings with walls torn apart and rubble strewn across the ground. Rescue workers were seen helping locals and providing thick blankets to keep them warm in freezing conditions.

Keep ReadingShow less