Q: Where was the Space Shuttle Columbia heading when it broke apart?
A: The Space Shuttle Columbia was heading towards its landing strip in Texas.
Q: How long did the Space Shuttle Columbia stay in orbit before the tragedy occurred?
A: The Space Shuttle Columbia stayed in orbit for 16 days.
Q: How many space flights had the Space Shuttle Columbia completed prior to the tragedy?
A: The Space Shuttle Columbia had completed 28 space flights before the tragedy.
Q: How many experiments did the seven-member crew conduct during the mission?
A: The seven-member crew conducted 80 experiments during the mission.
Q: What was the altitude and speed of the Space Shuttle Columbia when ground control lost contact with it?
A: The Space Shuttle Columbia was flying at an altitude of over 200,000 feet and traveling at over 20,000 km per hour when ground control lost contact with it.
Q: Where did Kalpana Chawla earn her Ph.D. in aerospace engineering?
A: United States of America
Q: When asked about her experience as a woman in her field, how did Kalpana Chawla respond?
A: She never thought about her gender or background and always focusing on her dreams.
Q: During Kalpana Chawla’s first space mission aboard the space shuttle Columbia, how many times did she go around the Earth?
A: 252 times
Q: According to Kalpana Chawla’s message to students, what are the key elements for achieving success?
A: Vision and courage
