Kalpana Chawla’s first mission was in the space shuttle Columbia. It was a 15 days, 16 hours and 34 minutes. During this time, she went around the earth 252 times traveling 1.45 million km. The crew performed experiments such as pollinating plants to observe food growth in space. It also made test for making stronger metals and faster computer chips. It was all done for a price tag of 56 million dollars.

Kalpana Chawla's First Mission in Space

Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-American astronaut, made history as the first woman of Indian origin to venture into space. She embarked on her first mission in space as a crew member of the Space Shuttle Columbia on January 16, 2003.

Preparation and Training
- Kalpana Chawla underwent extensive training prior to her first mission in space. This training included physical fitness, scientific experiments, simulations, and technical knowledge.
- Chawla trained alongside her fellow crew members, ensuring they were prepared for the challenges they would face during the mission.
- She familiarized herself with the systems and procedures of the Space Shuttle Columbia, as well as emergency protocols.

The Space Shuttle Columbia
- The Space Shuttle Columbia was a spacecraft that carried astronauts and payloads into space. It had previously completed 27 missions before Chawla's first mission.
- The Columbia had a crew of seven, including Kalpana Chawla, and its mission was designated as STS-107.
- The primary objective of this mission was to conduct a variety of experiments in microgravity, Earth observations, and technology demonstrations.

Launch and Spaceflight
- On January 16, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It soared into space, carrying Chawla and her fellow crew members.
- The mission aimed to last for approximately 16 days, during which the crew would perform numerous experiments and observations.
- Chawla's responsibilities on the mission included overseeing experiments related to microgravity, conducting research on the behavior of fluids, and capturing images of Earth using various cameras and sensors.

Tragic Ending
- Unfortunately, the mission came to a devastating end on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
- The tragic accident resulted in the loss of all seven crew members, including Kalpana Chawla. The cause of the disaster was determined to be a breach in the spacecraft's thermal protection system during launch.
- This incident had a profound impact on the space exploration community and served as a tragic reminder of the risks involved in space travel.

Despite the tragic ending of her first mission, Kalpana Chawla's contribution to space exploration and her inspiring journey continue to inspire individuals around the globe.

Kalpana's first space mission in the space shuttle, Columbia, was 15 days, 16 hours and 34 minutes long. During this time she went around the earth 252 times, travelling 10.45 million kilometres! The crew included a Japanese and a Ukranian astronaut.