Kalpana Chawla is an icon for Indian women, a self achiever and a hero for aspiring scientists. After her tragic death in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003 she gained iconic status, a role model to follow for thousands of girl students who aspired to be like her. She was the first Indian woman in space and Indian media even went to Karnal in Punjab, her place of birth and a number of articles were published in the print media.  Born in Karnal, where she did her schooling , she went on to do Aeronautical Engineering in Chandigarh at Punjab Engineering College. After which she moved to the United States in 1982. She had two masters degree to her credit and then a PhD in aerospace engineering in 1988. She was also a Certified Flight Instructor for a wide range of airplanes. After having joined the NASA Astronaut Corps she was selected for her first flight in NASA in 1996. She was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, NASA Space Flight Medal & NASA Distinguished Service Medal posthumously. A number of scholarships in her honor have also been instituted in various educational institutes.  Do you know who can avail these scholarships?

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