Summary of The Sky's the Limit by Kalpana Chawla

The Sky's the Limit - Summary

“Sky is the Limit’’ is about Kalpana Chawla, an Indo-American astronaut. Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian woman to travel to space. She was born in a middle-class family in the small town of Karnal in Haryana, India on 1st July 1961. From her childhood, she dreamed about flying in the sky and touching the stars. Even at a small age, she sketches aeroplanes rather than dolls. Her ambition at that age was to travel to Mars. Determined to pursue a career in aeronautics, she joined aeronautical engineering at the Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. She got admission in the University of Texas for a Masters in Aeronautical Science in 1982. As her father was not willing to send her abroad, she somehow convinced him to go to the US. Her father permitted her on one condition Kalpana’s brother had to accompany her.

Kalpana’s brother joined the flight school and when Chawla wanted to join the authorities wanted written consent from the guardian. But her father refused. Her brother’s words, “Everyone fights their own battles,” motivated her to get a pilot’s license for aeroplane and glider.

She was determined about her goal and refused to accept ‘no’ for an answer. This strong attitude she inherited from her father Banarsi Dass Chawla. He fled empty-handed from Pakistan to India during the partition. He started his business from scratch and supported his family well. She wanted to be an astronaut.  She joined NASA Ames Research Center in 1988. She was selected to go to the Milky Way. For it she has undergone rigorous training that required an immense level of fitness.  Because the pull of gravity will increase the pulse rate from 72 to 102 within seconds. In 1996, she started off on her path to the ‘Milky way.’ Hence she became the first Indian woman to travel in space.

Her second space flight came to her in 2000. “Doing it again is like living a dream – a good dream once again,” said Chawla. Unfortunately on 1st February 2003, the space shuttle exploded with Kalpana and other six crew members. Kaplan created a place for herself. She serves as a source of inspiration to many young women to think beyond horizons and reach for the stars. She conveyed her message in an interview as not to restrict oneself to the small location. The whole world is ours. Deciding your goal and your journey towards the goal is also equally important.

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