Question

What abilities must an astronaut have according to the journalist?

Answer 1

Hint: The context of the question is given in the Chapter ‘An Indian-American woman in space: Kalpana Chawla’. Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal, Haryana but became a U.S. citizen after her marriage to an American flight instructor Jean-Pierre Harrison. So she is called an Indian-American.

Complete answer:
Astronaut-A person who travels in space.
Journalist- A person who writes or broadcasts news.

The journalist is of the view that it takes extravagant abilities to be an astronaut. It requires wide-ranging subject knowledge. One needs to know biology, astrophysics, aeronautical engineering, etc. It is because of the fast developments in the fields of technology, science and education that it requires comprehensive and diverse knowledge to be able to become an astronaut. The journalist lists these abilities while admiring the achievements of Kalpana Chawla who, before becoming an astronaut had achieved the following milestones-:
1. Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering
2. Masters
3. PhD in aerospace engineering
4. License to fly single and multi-engine land aeroplanes.
5. License to fly seaplanes and gliders.
6. Certification as a flight instructor
7. Became a Researcher at NASA

After becoming an astronaut she became a Crew member on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. She was the first woman, of Indian origin, to make it into space. However, the second U.S. space shuttle mission in 2003 ended on a bad note and all the crew members died in the accident. It was a 16 days mission in space where the crew conducted 80 experiments.

Note: Astronaut training is done to enhance the abilities of individuals to perform under severely stressful, analytical and risky situations. Astronauts are selected on multipoint criteria related to age, physical fitness, stress management, multitasking, multidisciplinary approach etc.