Kalpana Chawla, astronaut and engineer, died on February 1, 2003 at the age of 40. A passionate advocate for space exploration, she became the first Indian-American woman to go to space in 1997. She originally studied aeronautical engineering in India, before moving to the US to earn her masters and doctorate degree. Kalpana was selected for the exhilarating mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003, and helped conduct important experiments during her time there. Her bravery and dedication earned her admiration and respect throughout the world. Kalpana will be remembered for her relentless pursuit of excellence in science, and for inspiring countless budding scientists and astronauts.