She took giant steps, and went out in a blaze of glory (Bill Holland, India Abroad, February 14, 2003)
Born in a simple family in Karnal, Haryana, Kalpana was the youngest of four children. She and her brother Sanjay shared the dream to fly.
She was academically brilliant all through her school days and was the only girl in the aeronautic department of the Punjab University.
In 1984 she completed her M Sc in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas, and in 1994 was selected by NASA.
There began her journey beyond the blue yonder.
Photograph: JSC/NASA
Remembering Kalpana | Remembering Those Who've gone