Research Scientist Time in space 31d 14h 54m Selection 1994 NASA Group Mission insignia     Early life Kalpana Chawla a was born in a  Punjabi  family at  Karnal ,  Haryana  in 1961 to Banarasi Lal Chawla and Sanjyothi. [ 1 ]  She was born in Model Town Karnal. Her interest