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The Edge of Time: The Authoritative Biography of Kalpana Chawla by Jean-Pierre Harrison
Biography of Indian-born NASA astronaut Kalpana Chawla. Covers her birth and upbringing in India, her graduate studies in the US, and her aerospace engineering career culminating in her selection into the NASA astronaut corps in 1995. Details her astronaut training and two shuttle flights, STS-87 in 1997, and the ill-fated STS-107 in 2003. Written by her husband, Jean-Pierre Harrison.
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First published February 25, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 29, 2021
seeing as the cheapest physical copy of this i can find is 600 dollars i bit the bullet and read an ebook
the crew of sts-107 has been lingering on my mind for a while. i did a project for apush that discussed the purpose and risks of space exploration. it’s not my current forte and the choice seemed arbitrary, but god i was changed by it. in my research i found myself absolutely enthralled by the individual crewmates of sts-107. their friendships, their quirks, their personal lives and families. it was only then that i began to realize that history is more about the individuals who create it and form the mosiac, seeing the puzzle for its pieces and not for the bigger picture. i often read and exposed myself to sobering pieces as a result of this (bringing columbia home, the crew survivability report) and this made me really contend with what i was learning, seeing, and realizing.
at the heart of it all, i think kalpana is incredible. she stands out. looking at her portraits she has just such a charming look, a big smile, warm eyes, everything about her is just so inviting and encouraging. learning about her from the view of a person who was so close to her and also being able to see the true humanity of those too often reduced to numbers on pages and screens is just so important and incredibly gratifying.
i hope kalpana is resting in peace, as well as her brave crewmates on sts-107. their memories are a blessing and an inspiration to everyone.
the crew of sts-107 has been lingering on my mind for a while. i did a project for apush that discussed the purpose and risks of space exploration. it’s not my current forte and the choice seemed arbitrary, but god i was changed by it. in my research i found myself absolutely enthralled by the individual crewmates of sts-107. their friendships, their quirks, their personal lives and families. it was only then that i began to realize that history is more about the individuals who create it and form the mosiac, seeing the puzzle for its pieces and not for the bigger picture. i often read and exposed myself to sobering pieces as a result of this (bringing columbia home, the crew survivability report) and this made me really contend with what i was learning, seeing, and realizing.
at the heart of it all, i think kalpana is incredible. she stands out. looking at her portraits she has just such a charming look, a big smile, warm eyes, everything about her is just so inviting and encouraging. learning about her from the view of a person who was so close to her and also being able to see the true humanity of those too often reduced to numbers on pages and screens is just so important and incredibly gratifying.
i hope kalpana is resting in peace, as well as her brave crewmates on sts-107. their memories are a blessing and an inspiration to everyone.
April 4, 2019
I have been waiting to buy this book for the past three years! At last.
Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Kalpana had not been in that ill-fated disaster? Would she have become such an icon to millions of Indians? After knowing about her from this book, I felt she was destined to be an icon for millions. I do not even by mistake imply she was destined to board STS-107 but have a intuition she would have inspired many by living her life seeking one adventure after next.
Regarding the book- it is written well and to the point. No philosophy or extrapolation of facts. Just the incidents that brings out Kalpana's nature. Author is very frank and has not written the book to appease popular beliefs. Stories regarding her training and her visits abroad, her favourite songs- all these made me feel a bit closer to a person who gave me a path to tread.
Listening a lot to "Yaar ko humne ja ba ja dekha..." song. her last wake up song played on space shuttle STS-107.
If she is your role model or not, give it a read!
Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Kalpana had not been in that ill-fated disaster? Would she have become such an icon to millions of Indians? After knowing about her from this book, I felt she was destined to be an icon for millions. I do not even by mistake imply she was destined to board STS-107 but have a intuition she would have inspired many by living her life seeking one adventure after next.
Regarding the book- it is written well and to the point. No philosophy or extrapolation of facts. Just the incidents that brings out Kalpana's nature. Author is very frank and has not written the book to appease popular beliefs. Stories regarding her training and her visits abroad, her favourite songs- all these made me feel a bit closer to a person who gave me a path to tread.
Listening a lot to "Yaar ko humne ja ba ja dekha..." song. her last wake up song played on space shuttle STS-107.
If she is your role model or not, give it a read!
August 18, 2021
I wanted to read this for a long time now and finally, I did finish it! I am glad it was the first book I read this year - Kalpana has always been an inspiration to me since I was a little girl - her biggest philosophy of being perseverant kept me going through some really tough times.
Coming to the book, I think I read half of it in a single sitting - I was so hooked !!
I realize how people who love you seem to remember such little things about you - which is obvious but I felt it so much more reading the book. She and her husband came out to be more dynamic personalities than what I even imagined and knew of them.
I do miss her and feel equally grateful that I have her as my inspiration :')
Coming to the book, I think I read half of it in a single sitting - I was so hooked !!
I realize how people who love you seem to remember such little things about you - which is obvious but I felt it so much more reading the book. She and her husband came out to be more dynamic personalities than what I even imagined and knew of them.
I do miss her and feel equally grateful that I have her as my inspiration :')
March 12, 2018
This book was a brilliant read.
The book tells the story of Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian born woman to go to space, and a member of the crew who died on the space shuttle Columbia as it made its way back to Earth.
This was an insightful read that detailed the parts of Kalpana Chawla's life that we weren't previously aware of, very interesting and rather sad in places.
A very enjoyable read.
The book tells the story of Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian born woman to go to space, and a member of the crew who died on the space shuttle Columbia as it made its way back to Earth.
This was an insightful read that detailed the parts of Kalpana Chawla's life that we weren't previously aware of, very interesting and rather sad in places.
A very enjoyable read.
March 8, 2025
During my trip to the Remembering Columbia Museum to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the STS-107 accident, I picked up this book by Kalpana Chawla's husband. It is definitely not my favorite book about the STS-107 crew or the accident. Jean-Pierre Harrison gives us several vignettes about his life with his wife but does not reflect much on what it all means. Much of the book reads more like a travelogue than a reflection on the person Chawla was or the accident. I also found the author's attitude to be too negative in describing some people and events. But on the plus side, readers will gain some personal insights into Chawla's family, the people she admired, the foods she ate, and the travels she made. Descriptions of the travels that Harrison made following the accident, both in the United States and in Chawla's native nation of India, help to reinforce the idea that the family members of the lost crew wanted to inspire people around the world with their public presentations. I would definitely recommend Evelyn Husband's book as the best for any reader wanting to gain a sense of the personal qualities of a crewmember from this mission. This book does contain some decent insights as well, but it could have been much more thorough and reflective.
July 25, 2020
A woman who inspired a nation and more.!!
I always wanted to know more about Ms. Kalpana Chawla. I idolized her since i was 3-4 years old.
This book has everything any fan of hers would want to know. Amazing piece of writing and her story is motivational, inspirational and captivating to say the least.
Everyone who wants to understand how greatness is achieved should read this. I have always admired her will and this book showed me the depth of it.
I always wanted to know more about Ms. Kalpana Chawla. I idolized her since i was 3-4 years old.
This book has everything any fan of hers would want to know. Amazing piece of writing and her story is motivational, inspirational and captivating to say the least.
Everyone who wants to understand how greatness is achieved should read this. I have always admired her will and this book showed me the depth of it.
September 14, 2021
The story of kalpana chawla is extremely inspiring. However the writing and editing has failed it. It was more like a diary of her husband. Perhaps a better collaboration with her family about her younger days would have been more interesting to read and less about the banal details of their trips in US, etc.
April 5, 2021
An eternal inspiration well captured
A must read for those who wish to be inspired by the grit and courage of a fearless human being in the pursuit of space flight , from a land far away.
A must read for those who wish to be inspired by the grit and courage of a fearless human being in the pursuit of space flight , from a land far away.
May 7, 2025
People would have called you crazy if you had said that a girl born in Karnal, India, in 1962 could one day become an astronaut. Cards stacked against her, Kalpana demonstrated her relentless determination and extraordinary intelligence could defy every expectation.
Her story compels me to reflect deeply on my own life, making me ask whether I'm maximizing my potential. Kalpana was a force of nature, fearless at every stage of her journey, and reading about her courage inspires me to set more ambitious goals and face my fears head-on. Knowing she ultimately gave her life pursuing something greater than herself adds urgency to that inspiration. When someone extraordinary leaves us too soon, someone who had so much left to contribute, how can we remain complacent? Her story motivates me to pick up the torch any way I can and strive to make my own meaningful impact on the world.
I see many parallels between Kalpana and another personal hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Both were born in small towns in countries far from the United States. Each pursued passions that most people dismissed—Arnold in bodybuilding, Kalpana in aeronautical engineering. Both achieved prominence in their home countries and then came to America to chase even more ambitious dreams. At every step, naysayers told them their goals were impossible. They proved them wrong.
The author's writing style, clearly influenced by his experience crafting helicopter flight manuals, is straightforward, factual, and precise. This biography unfolds through facts and vignettes, presenting Kalpana’s life impartially and allowing readers to form their own conclusions. This approach is executed well, and even when presented as unbiased as possible, every reader should walk away with a clear and profound appreciation of how remarkable Kalpana Chawla was.
Kalpana’s story is powerful and I am grateful to have come across it.
Her story compels me to reflect deeply on my own life, making me ask whether I'm maximizing my potential. Kalpana was a force of nature, fearless at every stage of her journey, and reading about her courage inspires me to set more ambitious goals and face my fears head-on. Knowing she ultimately gave her life pursuing something greater than herself adds urgency to that inspiration. When someone extraordinary leaves us too soon, someone who had so much left to contribute, how can we remain complacent? Her story motivates me to pick up the torch any way I can and strive to make my own meaningful impact on the world.
I see many parallels between Kalpana and another personal hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Both were born in small towns in countries far from the United States. Each pursued passions that most people dismissed—Arnold in bodybuilding, Kalpana in aeronautical engineering. Both achieved prominence in their home countries and then came to America to chase even more ambitious dreams. At every step, naysayers told them their goals were impossible. They proved them wrong.
The author's writing style, clearly influenced by his experience crafting helicopter flight manuals, is straightforward, factual, and precise. This biography unfolds through facts and vignettes, presenting Kalpana’s life impartially and allowing readers to form their own conclusions. This approach is executed well, and even when presented as unbiased as possible, every reader should walk away with a clear and profound appreciation of how remarkable Kalpana Chawla was.
Kalpana’s story is powerful and I am grateful to have come across it.
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July 16, 2021Best book
June 22, 2024
The offers a sneak peak into life of Kalpana Chawla. The narration is not the strongest part of the book. However, one continues to read to be with Kalpana along her among the stars.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews