Virender Sehwag leads tributes to Kalpana Chawla on her 55th birth anniversary

On February 1, 2003, Kalpana Chawla and her six crew members of the Space Shuttle Columbia were killed during their return to Earth.

New Delhi: Virender Sehwag along with Vijender Singh and Mohammad Kaif paid tributes to late Indian-Amierican astronaut Kalpana chawla on her 55th birth anniversary.

On February 1, 2003, Indian-origin American national and NASA astronaut Kalpana Chawla and her six crew members of the Space Shuttle Columbia were killed during their return to Earth after a 16-day science mission designated STS-107 in space.

"Tributes to #KalpanaChawla on her birth anniversary. Always an inspiration and symbol of courage and strength," Virender Sehwag's tweet read.

"Tributes to India's immortal daughter #KalpanaChawla !Will always remain an inspiration for young girls to dream for the stars & reach them!" tweeted Mohammad Kaif.

"Naman to #KalpanaChawla , born in Karnal and the first woman of Indian origin in space , on her birth anniversary. A Star forever," wrote Vijender Singh.

Kalpana was born and brought up in Karnal, Haryana and completed her schooling from Tagore School, Karnal in 1976.

She went on to get a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in 1982 and moved to US to pursue a Master of Science degree in the same field from the University of Texas at Arlington.

In 1988 she earned a PhD in the the field from the University of Colorado.