In 1984 Kalpana married Jean-Pierre Harrison, a freelance flight instructor. They met while she was studying for her masters degree in aeronautical engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. Both shared a common love for music and nature. Friends described them as sharing an 'intelligent bond.'
When Kalpana was selected to join NASA, Harrison quit his job and moved to Houston with her. They led a private life. Kalpana introduced him to Indian food and would often visit Indian restaurants in the area. He, in turn, introduced her to rock music. She discovered a great blend between Harrison's world and her Indian roots. JP, as she called Harrison, often described himself as the "son-in-law of India."
After watching the British rock band Deep Purple perform in Texas, she developed a liking for them and met the band members. On her final flight aboard Columbia she took along CDs of Deep Purple along with those of Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Kalpana and Jean-Pierre Harrison in 1989, on their visit to India after their wedding
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Photo: Courtesy Kalpana Chawla's family