American global aerospace and defence technology company, Northrop Grumman, has decided to name an American commercial spacecraft bound for International Space Station after Kalpana Chawla, the first India-born woman to enter space, for her key contributions to human spaceflight.

Aeronautical engineer Leroy Grumman’s company announced on Wednesday that its next Cygnus capsule will be named as ‘SS Kalpana Chawla’, honouring the memory of the NASA astronaut who died with her six crew mates aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 2003.

“Today we honour Kalpana Chawla, who made history at NASA as the first female astronaut of Indian descent. Her contributions to human spaceflight have had a lasting impact,” the tweet read.

The company, on its website, reminded people of the pivotal role Kalpana Chawla played in understanding astronaut health and safety during spaceflight. Chawla died on February 1, 2003, when her space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during its re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

“Northrop Grumman is proud to name the NG-14 Cygnus spacecraft after former astronaut Kalpana Chawla. It is the company’s tradition to name each Cygnus after an individual who has played a pivotal role in human spaceflight. Chawla was selected in honour of her prominent place in history as the first woman of Indian descent to go to space,” the company said on its website.

“While Chawla made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the space programme, her legacy lives on through her fellow astronauts and those she has inspired to follow in her footsteps,” it said.

“Her final research conducted onboard Columbia helped us understand astronaut health and safety during spaceflight. Northrop Grumman is proud to celebrate the life of Kalpana Chawla and her dream of flying through the air and in space. Her final research conducted onboard Columbia helped us understand astronaut health and safety during spaceflight. Northrop Grumman is proud to celebrate the life of Kalpana Chawla and her dream of flying through the air and in space,” they added.

According to Northrop Grumman’s schedule, The SS Kalpana Chawla capsule will launch atop a Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on September 29 for the NG-14 mission.The spacecraft will arrive at and be attached to the space station two days later.

For the NG-14 mission, the Cygnus spacecraft will deliver approximately 3,629 kg of cargo to the space station.