Nothing is quite as amazing as to build a planetarium to recall
that fond memory of the famous astronaut Kalpana Chawla and her
contributions.
The planetarium is to be built at the historic town of Kurukshetra
in Haryana and will be opened within the first quarter of the
2007-08 financial year, says Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan.
It will feature a 12 metre dome with seating capacity of 120 people.
This planetarium will showcase the latest digital and optomechanical
space view gadgets imported from the US and will be first of its
kind to be introduced in the state of Haryana. The construction
work of the planetarium is in full swing. Also, there would be
a special section shedding light on the life of the wonderful
astronaut. This 6.5 crore project is near completion.
Kalpana Chawla, an Indian born American Astronaut and space
shuttle mission specialist, was one of the seven crew members
lost abroad Space Shuttle Columbia during mission STS-107 when
the shuttle disintegrated upon reentry into the Earth’s Atmosphere
on Feb 1, 2003.
Chawla was born and brought up in Karnal a town in Haryana.
She maintained her profound association with her home town and
school in Karnal by sponsoring and inviting two students from
the institution to visit the NASA space facility at Cape Canaveral
(Florida) in the United States every year.
