Kalpana Chawla's space dream did India proud

NDTV ^ | February 1, 2003 | NDTV Correspondent

[a_Turk]

And when they DO think, watch out..

[general_re]

I stand corrected.

Class act - most people these days aren't big enough to admit such a thing. Don't let it bother you - everyone's speculating about everything right now, including who these people on the crew were. It's going to be a while before we have anything more than just speculation.

[BossLady]

Ditto! Shiva Om, Kalpana!

[mrustow]

Fox was listing the astronauts and couldn't resist mentioning that she made a number of mistakes on her only other space mission.. I hate news people sometimes..

An aeronautic disaster occurs, and you're angry that newsmen mentioned that one of the crew members had a history of screwing up? Don't let the facts get in the way of your feelings.

[Aaron_A]

RIP

[Xenalyte]

Oh, man, she doesn't look 41. She looks more like 25.

The God of us all, whatever his name be called, holds her and her family in his hands.

[Oztrich Boy]

An aeronautic disaster occurs, and you're angry that newsmen mentioned that one of the crew members had a history of screwing up?

"Remember the Maine!"

[Gamecock]

I am so sorry......

[Gamecock]

Alberta's Child ...don't mean to sound insensitive, general_re Not an insensitive question

True. But the fact of the matter is, it does provide for great diplomacy. I frequently have foriegn officers in the military courses I run. They are truly in awe of what America is, once they are here and get to know us. Most often they are the best and the brightest, and are the future leaders in their militaries. It's best that they have positive experiences and form their opinions here, than have them shaped by the propoganda that they are all to often fed.

[Alberta's Child]

You raise an excellent point, but in my experience these people are already the "cream of the crop" and don't need much convicning about what America is all about. For many of them (particularly in India, where there is a rigid caste system), an education at British-style boarding schools is considered standard.

[Alberta's Child]

Her background on another mission is not exactly irrelevant here.

Former astronaut Richard Haucke was on NBC this afternoon, and one of the things he pointed out was that NASA made every attempt to get well-rounded people into the space program. It made life easier if someone (a non-military crew member) who was a research scientist in a particular area could also operate some of the spacecraft's equipment if needed.

[Under the Radar]

I agree, but we are supposed to notice that...

[Under the Radar]

I agree, but we aren't supposed to notice that...

[Aeronaut]

Thanks.

[a_Turk]

Petty blame game, not beneath most as usual. Facts will reveal the real story.

[Aaron_A]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2716961.stm

[Mercat]

I've represented several Indian women and this death, this life will do a lot for the status of women in this country. God bless her.

[RightWhale]

Describing Chawla as a worthy daughter of India, he said, "For India it is an irreparable loss. I share the grief with every fellow countryman".

The Minister also said there was a need for thorough investigation so that such accidents do not occur in the future.

Accidents happen. Space travel is inherently dangerous. Indians will continue to participate in the space program as astronauts with full knowledge of the danger. Besides, Indians have the advantage of being reborn immediately, so they shouldn't worry so much.

[anu_shr]

Kalpana's relatives are all Indians . She can't change that. But she is a bonafide American citizen who has contributed to America as much as America has given to her -who was up there with others in Columbia because of her merit - to which of course her Indian family , her small Indian town and Indian education system were the contributing factors and focussing on them is only fair.