'Daring to rise': On Kalpana Chawla’s death anniversary, Nation pays tribute to the first woman astronaut from India

Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-born woman to fly in space and only the second Indian person to do so tragically died on February 1, 2003. The Haryana-born astronaut died along with six others — just 16 minutes before landing as the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during its re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. On the 16th death anniversary of the Indian astronaut whose achievements continue to inspire many, the nation is paying homage to their ‘lost star’.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh took to Twitter to pay his "Humble tributes" to Kalpana Chawla on her death anniversary.

Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas also paid his respect:

Remembering their “childhood inspiration”, Tweeple too joined in with a string of tweets. 

Read: ISRO Unveils Human Space Flight Centre In Bengaluru For Maiden Manned Mission