Which Indian-American astronaut, who perished in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, was the first woman of Indian origin to travel to space?

• A Kalpana Chawla ✓
• B Sunita Williams
• C Rakesh Sharma
• D Sirisha Bandla

Kalpana Chawla flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 and died on its ill-fated 2003 mission, becoming the first Indian-born woman in space.