Class:- 6 English (Honeysuckle) Chapter - 4 An Indian-American Woman in Space : Kalpana Chawla Summary, Word Meanings, NCERT Solutions & Frequently Asked Questions

Class:- 6 English 

(Honeysuckle)

Chapter - 4

An Indian-American Woman in Space : Kalpana Chawla

Summary, Word Meanings, NCERT Solutions & Frequently Asked Questions  

--- Summary ---

Summary In English:- Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal, Haryana but became a U.S. citizen after her marriage to an American flight instructor Jean-Pierre Harrison. So she is called an Indian-American. She graduated from Tagore School Karnal. After this she joined an engineering college. Then, she went for a master’s degree to the U.S. After getting that degree, she earned her Ph.D. in aerospace engineering.

After qualifying as a pilot, she applied to NASA for a space shuttle program. It was her success as a pilot that gave her the idea that she could be ar astronaut. She was first hired as a research scientist. In 1994, she was selected by NASA for training as an astronaut among others. Thus she became the first Indian-American woman astronaut.

Chawla’s first space mission in the space was 15 days, 16 hours and 34 minutes long. The crew included a Japanese and a Ukrainian astronaut. They performed different experiments for a price tag of about 56 million dollars.

When the news about the Columbia disaster broke, there was shock and disbelief. But it became clear that Kalpana Chawla had died. All other crewmembers on the space shuttle had also died.

A journalist wrote that Kalpana Chawla was a heroine. According to him astronaut is a very able person. He has to know everything from biology to astrophysics to aeronautical engineering. An astronaut has encyclopaedic knowledge.

Kalpana Chawla said that a dream can be made a reality. For this one must have the courage and work for it.

Summary In Hindi:- कल्पना चावला का जन्म हरियाणा के करनाल नगर में हुआ था पर बाद में वह एक अमरिकी फ्लाइट इंस्ट्रक्टर जीन-पियर हैरीसन से शादी करके अमरीकी नागरिक बन गयी थी। इसलिए उन्हें भारतीय अमरीकन कहते हैं। करनाल टैगोर स्कूल से उसने स्नातक की डिग्री ली। उसके बाद वह एक इंजीनियरिंग कॉलेज में पढ़ने लगी। फिर वह स्नातकोत्तर डिग्री के लिए अमरीका गई। उस डिग्री को प्राप्त करने के बाद उसने अंतरिक्ष इंजीनियरिंग में डॉक्टर की उपाधि प्राप्त की।

वायुयान-चालक की योग्यता प्राप्त करने के बाद, उसने नासा में अंतरिक्ष-यान के प्रोग्राम के लिए आवेदन भेजा। चालक के रूप में सफल होकर उसे यह विचार आया कि वह ऐस्ट्रोनाट बन सकती थी। पहले उसे अनुसंधान-वैज्ञानिक के रूप में रखा गया। 1994 में नासा ने उसका चुनाव अंतरिक्ष यात्री की ट्रेनिंग के लिए किया। इस प्रकार वह प्रथम भारतीय-अमरीकी नारी अंतरिक्ष यात्री बन गयी।

चावला की प्रथम अंतरिक्ष यात्रा 15 दिन 16 घंटे और 34 मिनट की थी। उस अंतरिक्षयान के जत्थे में एक जापानी और एक यूक्रेनियन अंतरिक्ष यात्री भी थे। लगभग 56 मिलियन डालर के खर्च पर उन लोगों ने अंतरिक्ष में विभिन्न प्रयोग किए।

जब कोलंबिया के नष्ट होने की खबर आयी, तब लोगों को विश्वास नहीं हुआ और उन्हें बड़ा मानसिक आघात लगा। परंतु यह स्पष्ट हो गया कि कल्पना चावला मर चुकी थी। उस यान के अन्य यात्री भी मारे गये थे।

एक पत्रकार ने लिखा कि कल्पना चावला एक नायिका थी। उसके अनुसार अंतरिक्ष यात्री बड़ा योग्य व्यक्ति होता है। उसे जीव विज्ञान से लेकर अंतरिक्ष-भौतिकी और अंतरिक्ष भौतिकी से लेकर अंतरिक्ष यांत्रिकी तक सब कुछ जानना होता है। अंतरिक्ष यात्री का ज्ञान विश्वकोषीय होता है।

कल्पना चावला ने कहा था कि स्वप्न को वास्तविकता बनाया जा सकता है। इसके लिए व्यक्ति में साहस होना चाहिए और उसके लिए प्रयत्न करना चाहिए।

--- Moral ---

If you have a strong determination, then no one stop you from achieving your goals.

--- Word Meanings ---

1. Unlike - अलग
2. Space shuttle - अंतरिक्ष यान
3. Look up -  खोजना 
4. Astronaut - अन्तरिक्ष यात्री
5. Frontiers - हदें , सीमाऐ
6. Take off -  चल पड़ना
7. Land - उतरना
8. Altitude - उँचाई 
9. Launch pad - वह जगह जहाँ से अन्तरिक्ष यान छोड़ा जाता है 
10. Blast off - प्रारांभ करना 
11. Breake - खबर आना
12. Inspiration - प्रेरणा 

--- NCERT Solution ---

Working With the Text   (Page 50)

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.- Where was Kalpana Chawla born? Why is she called an Indian-American? 

Answer:- Kalpana Chawla was born at Karnal, Haryana. She was married to an American and became a naturalized citizen. So she is called an Indian- American.

Question 2.- When and why did she go to the U.S? Who did she marry? 

Answer:- Kalpana went to the U.S. for higher studies in aeronautical engineering. There she was  married to a flight instructor Jean-Pierre Harrison.

Question 3.- How did she become an astronaut? What gave her the idea that she could be an astronaut? 

Answer:- Kalpana had already got a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering before she went to the U.S. She earned her PhD in aerospace engineering. In 1994 she was selected by NASA for training as an astronaut. She was encouraged by the people around her.

Question 4.- What abilities must an astronaut have, according to the journalist? 

Answer:- An astronaut needs to know a lot about biology and aeronautical engineering. He/ She must have a wide knowledge of science subjects.

Question 5.- Describe Kalpana Chawla’s first mission in space. 

Answer:-  Kalpana’s first mission in the space shuttle, Columbia, was nearly 16 days long. She went around the earth 252 times. Among her colleagues were a Japanese and Ukrainian astronauts. They performed so many experiments.

Question 6.- What does Kalpana Chawla say about pursuing a dream? Do you agree with her that success is possible? 

Answer:-  Kalpana Chawla, a girl from a small town, touched the skies. In her message to college students of Chandigarh, from space, she said that it was always possible to realise one’s dream. One could certainly get success provided one had the vision and the courage.

Yes, I do agree with her on this point.         

B. Read the newspaper report to find the following facts about the Columbia’s ill- fated voyage.

1. Date and place of lift off:_____________________________________________________

2. Number of astronauts on board:_______________________________________________

3. Number of days it stayed in space:_____________________________________________

4. Number of experiments done by scientists:_____________________________________

5. Date of return journey: ______________________________________________________

6. Height at which it lost contact:_________________________________________________

Answer:- 

1. Date and place of lift off:- 16 January 2003

2. Number of astronauts on board:- Seven

3. Number of days it stayed in space:- 15 days, 16 hours and 34 minutes

4. Number of experiments done by scientists:- 80

5. Date of return journey:- 1 February 2003

6. Height at which it lost contact:- 200000 feet

--- Previous Year Questions ---

Question 1.- What was Kalpana Chawla’s great achievement?

Answer:- Kalpana Chawla’s great achievement was that she was selected to go into space. Her achievement was awe-inspiring.

Question 2.- What is a space shuttle? Name the shuttle which took Kalpana in space.
Answer:- Space shuttle is a spacecraft. It can be used for space travel more than once. It is unlike a rocket. Kalpana took in space the shuttle named Columbia.

Question 3.- How did Kalpana Chawla meet her end? When did this tragedy in space take place?
Answer:- Kalpana Chawla went up in a space shuttle along with six other astronauts. On Saturday, February 1, 2003 the shuttle Columbia broke apart. All the seven on board were killed.

Question 4.- What do you know about Kalpana Chawla’s education? How did she become an American citizen?
Answer:- Kalpana Chawla graduated from Tagore School. She got a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering. She then went to the USA to earn her PhD. She became a naturalised U.S. citizen after her marriage with Harrison, an American.

Question 5.- What do you learn about Columbia from the lesson you have read? What was its final fate?
Answer:- Columbia was a space shuttle. It carried Kalpana and six other astronauts. It went up in flames over Texas on the return journey. On February 1, 2003, all the seven on board lost their lives.

Question 6.-‘Kalpana Chawla was a heroine’. How did a journalist support his statement?
Answer:- Kalpana was a heroine. She was born in the small town of Karnal. But she was a genius. She became an astronaut. She had an encyclopaedic knowledge of so many subjects. She made a great achievement.

Question 7.- What do you know about Kalpana Chawla’s birth, education, great achievement and tragic end?
Answer:- Kalpana Chawla was born in Kamal, Haryana. She got a degree in aeronautical engineering in India and earned her doctorate in the USA. She made a historic achievement when she blasted off from Florida in a space mission. She became a naturalised American citizen after her marriage with an American flight instructor, Harrison. She met her tragic end on February 1, 2003, when Columbia broke apart and caught fire. All the seven members on board met a tragic end.

Question 8.- The story of Kalpana Chawla has become an inspiration for millions of young Indians. How? What message did she send from the space shuttle to students of her college?
Answer:- Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-American woman, made history when she went up in a space shuttle Columbia. It had a great achievement but she met with a tragic end. Columbia went up in flames and she lost her life. In a message she sent from Columbia to students of her college in Chandigarh she told them that with courage they too can fulfil their dreams. She wished them all a great journey.

Give Us Your Feedback/Suggestions

- By Durgesh Pandey

(Eklavya Coaching Institute)

📞 8376976688, 9310533915

H-2/25, Gali No-23, Kunwar Singh Nagar, Nangloi, New Delhi -110041