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Remembering Kalpana Chawla: First Indian-born American woman to go to space | Latest News India

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Kalpana Chawla — the name that leaves almost all Indians with pride— the first Indian-born woman to fly in space, was born in Karnal, Haryana on March 17, 1962.

Kalpana Chawla first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997, as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. (File)
Kalpana Chawla first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997, as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. (File)

As a child, Chawla was very fascinated by aircrafts and flying. She used to visit local flying clubs with her father and would see the planes. She pursued the degree of aeronautical engineering at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh after completing her initial studies at Karnal. She moved to the United States in the year 1982 to fulfil her desire of being an astronaut. In 1984 she received a Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. She also had a PhD in the same field from the University of Colorado in 1988. In the same year she started working at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the US. She married Jean-Pierre Harrison in 1983.

The Indian-origin American astronaut embarked on her first space journey in 1997 on Space Shuttle Columbia as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator on this mission. She had completed 252 orbits of the earth in 15 days and 16 hours in this mission.

Her second and final journey into space was on STS-107 Space Shuttle Columbia. The 16-day flight was a dedicated science and research mission. The space shuttle disintegrated over Texas while returning into the Earth’s atmosphere on February 1, 2003, killing all the seven crew members including Chawla onboard.

Her last remains were cremated and scattered at National Park in Utah, US as per her wish.

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Called KC by her friends, Chawla was admired for her kindness and her constant striving for perfection. She received many medals, and awards posthumously from both the Indian government and the US government for her contributions to space and science research.

MetSat-1, the first satellite under the Met-Sat series, which was launched on September 12, 2002 by India, was renamed Kalpana-1. The Kalpana Chawla Award was established by the Karnataka government to award young women scientists. Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College, Karnal, Haryana was established in 2017.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Centre hikes DA by 4% to 42% for central govt employees | Latest News India

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Union minister Anurag Thakur on Friday announced that the government has increased the dearness allowance or DA for central government employees by 4 per cent to 42 per cent with effect from January 1, 2023.

The government has increased the dearness allowance for central government employees by 4 per cent with effect from January 1, 2023.
The government has increased the dearness allowance for central government employees by 4 per cent with effect from January 1, 2023.

It has also extended the subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana for another year and decided to increase the MSP for jute by 300.

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In Rahul Gandhi’s POCSO case, Delhi HC seeks child panel’s reply | Latest News India

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The Delhi high court on Friday sought response of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in a plea seeking FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly revealing the identity of a Dalit girl, who was raped and killed in 2021, and her relatives on Twitter. The child rights body said that it has informed the matter to the Supreme Court and received a notice from there, and will give its response through an affidavit.

A petition was filed against Rahul Gandhi in 2021 for allegedly revealing identity of a rape victim on Twitter.(HT)
A petition was filed against Rahul Gandhi in 2021 for allegedly revealing identity of a rape victim on Twitter.(HT)

Also read: NCPCR notice to Twitter on pic shared by Rahul Gandhi with rape victim’s family

“In 2021, Rahul Gandhi revealed the identity of a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offcences Act, 2012) victim in a tweet and a case was registered against him under Section 23 of the POCSO Act, Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act and Section 128 A of IPC (Indian Penal Code),” NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Delhi HC bench consisting chief justice Satish Chnadra Sharma and justie Sachin Datta sent notice to the NCPCR seeking its response on the matter within four weeks.

However, the child rights body said that a formal notice has not been issued to them by the high court to file a counter-affidavit to the petition. Kanoongo said they contacted Twitter on the matter and came to know that the alleged tweet is not visible in India anymore. NCPCR earlier told the court that despite Twitter’s claim to take down Gandhi’s alleged tweet, the offence of making such disclosure survives.

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In 2021, a petition was filed by social activist Makarand Suresh Mhadlekar claiming that the Congress leader violated the Juvenile Justie (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the POCSO Act, 2012, by allegedly posting the photo of victim’s patents.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on July 27.

(With ANI, PTI inputs)


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Daily brief: India’s sharp message to UK after FIR over London protest | Latest News India

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Here are today’s top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Protestors of the Khalistan movement demonstrate outside of the Indian High Commission in London.(AP)
Protestors of the Khalistan movement demonstrate outside of the Indian High Commission in London.(AP)

‘Want to see action’: India’s sharp message to UK after FIR over London protest

The Delhi Police have registered a case under several penal provisions, including India’s anti-terror law, against people involved in a violent protest by pro-Khalistan groups outside the Indian high commission in London during which an activist pulled down the national flag. Read more

‘What if…’: Vivek Agnihotri shares ‘idea’ to show solidarity to Rahul Gandhi

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri on Friday shared an ‘idea’ where he suggested all Congress MPs and MLAs to go for mass resignation as a sign of solidarity to Rahul Gandhi after he was disqualified today as a Lok Sabha member. Read more

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‘Ask me about…: Raghav Chadha’s ‘Parineeti’ wordplay amid dating rumours | Watch

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha Friday brushed aside a reporter’s question on Parineeti Chopra when asked about photos of his meetings with the actor which triggered speculations of them dating. Watch here

‘One thing I admire about Hardik…’: Gujarat Titans star’s big statement on Pandya and MS Dhoni

The 2022 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw Hardik Pandya getting a second lease of life in his career. Read more

Sara Ali Khan confesses she’d use divorce to guilt trip Saif Ali Khan: ‘Abba, you don’t live with us’

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Sara Ali Khan, while promoting her new film Gaslight, has confessed that she and her younger brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan, have played up being children of divorced parents and tried to play victims against them. Read more

 

 

 


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