Karnal (Haryana): The alma mater of the first Indian-American woman, who embarked on her second space voyage on January 16, is basking under fresh glory after the successful launch of the space shuttle from the US.

It has been a proud moment once again for the teachers and students of the Tagore Baal Niketan Senior Secondary School after hearing news of Kalpana Chawla making her space odyssey for the second time in six years.

Chawla is part of the seven-member mission on board the space shuttle "Columbia", which was blasted from the Cape Canaveral Centre in Florida on January 16 and will be in space for 16 days conducting a range of scientific experiments.

The school authorities are thankful for the help extended by Chawla in arranging the visit of two students from her old school each year to visit the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters in Houston.

"But for Kalpana didi, I could never dream of visiting the prestigious NASA headquarters in Houston in the US," said Sarprit. She said it had been a wonderful experience and it is unbelievable to see the giant space establishment.

Sarprit and Namita Olang said Kalpana's achievements have been an inspiration for the school students. Olang said Kalpana is so simple and that she will be her guiding light.

The school principal Vimla Raheja said Chawla's gesture of ensuring two students going to Houston was a wonderful annual "gift" from her.

Kalpana did her college education in Punjab, before going to Texas to do her Masters in aerospace engineering.

Chawla, who joined NASA in 1994, is an avid flier and holds certified flight instructor's license with airplane and glider ratings, commercial pilot's licenses for single and multi-engine land and sea planes.

PTI