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- “I would say if you have a dream, follow it. It doesn’t really matter whether you are a woman or from India or from wherever.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “Do something because you really want to do it. If you’re doing it just for the goal and don’t enjoy the path, then I think you’re cheating yourself.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “I stopped thinking about it after trying to figure out what are the lessons learned, and there are so many. After I had basically sorted that out, I figured it’s time to really look at the future and not at the past.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “I don’t know why I always liked aerospace engineering. I was in the 10th grade when I figured that’s what I wanted to do.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “You are just your intelligence.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “Some of the senior people, the very senior astronauts, shook my hand and said, ‘K.C., you did a great job. Don’t let anyone tell you different.’” – Kalpana Chawla
- “In summers, while growing up in India, we often slept in the courtyard under the stars.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “You must enjoy the journey because whether or not you get there, you must have fun on the way.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “Material interests are not the only guiding light.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “Every once in a while, we’d ask my dad if we could get a ride in one of these planes. And, he did take us to the flying club and get us a ride in the Pushpak and a glider that the flying club had.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “The journey matters as much as the goal.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “We crossed the Himalayas in less than two minutes, and then you realise, ‘Oh My God, within an hour and a half, we have gone around the whole planet.’” – Kalpana Chawla
- “If you want to do something, what does it matter where you are ranked?” – Kalpana Chawla
- “When you lift off, the pressure is supposed to be maximum. But actually, it was very benign. Very enjoyable. But as soon as the engines cut off and you get to zero gravity, you felt as if you were being pushed off your seat. You feel disoriented. You don’t feel aligned with anything. I felt for a few good hours that I was falling.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “I’ve always been very determined. I don’t get easily discouraged.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “The path from dreams to success does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get on to it, and the perseverance to follow it.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “I have felt that connection and stewardship for Earth for as long as I can remember. And not just for Earth, but the whole universe.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “When you look at the stars and the galaxy, you feel that you are not just from any particular piece of land, but from the solar system.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “It’s like running a marathon race. We train all hours of the day. When you are taking a bath, you are thinking of the flight.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “The list of what I want to do is so long, I would need a few lifetimes to achieve them. For instance, I would like to fly small planes, maybe over the Ganges one day.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “I am from Karnal, India.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “The first view of the Earth is magical. It is a very overpowering realization that the Earth is so small. It affected me. I could not get over the notion that in such a small planet, with such a small ribbon of life, so much goes on. It is as if the whole place is sacred.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “We gazed dreamily at the Milky Way and once in a while caught some shooting stars. Times like those gave me the opportunity to wonder and ask all those very basic questions. That sense of awe for the heavens started there.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “The quickest way may not necessarily be the best.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “It’s easy for me to be motivated and inspired by seeing somebody who just goes all out to do something.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “Take good care of our fragile planet.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “I was interested in aerospace and flying, and the U.S. is really the best place in the world for flying.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “Listen to the sounds of nature. Wishing you the best on your trek towards your dreams.” – Kalpana Chawla
- “There are so many people who are arguing or fighting over issues which don’t have much relevance. We must all realise it is not worth it.” – Kalpana Chawla