Celebrating the Life of Dr. Kalpana Chawla

Today, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) inserted the following statement into the House Record:"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Dr. Kalpana Chawla, who died tragically aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, along with six other crew members. Dr. Chawla was the first Indian-American woman in space, and an inspiration to the world," said Rep. Wilson"Born in Karnal, India, she was the youngest of four children. Determined to achieve her dream of space flight, Kalpana was one of the first women ever to enroll in aeronautical engineering at India's Punjab Engineering College. Later she immigrated to the United States in the 1980's and was educated at the University of Texas and the University of Colorado."Dr. Chawla joined NASA in 1988 with her first flight into space in 1997, as a mission specialist and prime robotic arm operator. She is symbolic of the growing importance of Indian-Americans to our nation's culture."I join with my fellow House India Caucus Co-Chair Joseph Crowley, in extending to her family our sincere condolences. The people of the United States owe Dr. Kalpana Chawla a debt of gratitude for her bravery and good work, and join with the people of India in mourning her loss," said Rep. Wilson.###