Kalpana Chawla [ कल्पना चावला ]

 Kalpana Chawla [ कल्पना चावला ]

कल्पना चावला :  

Kalpana Chawla (17 March 1962 – 1 February 2003) was an American astronaut, engineer and the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. 

In 2003 , Chawla was one of the seven crew members who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster when the spacecraft disintegrated during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congression Medal of  and several streets, universities, and institutions have been named in her honor. She is regarded as a national hero in India.