Rakesh Sharma | |
|---|---|
 Rakesh Sharma, as aSquadron Leader in theIndian Air Force | |
| Born | (1949-01-13)13 January 1949 (age 77) |
| Status | Retired |
| Alma mater | National Defence Academy Air Force Academy |
| Occupations | |
| Space career | |
| Indian cosmonaut | |
Time in space | 7 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes |
| Selection | Intercosmos (1982) |
| Missions | Soyuz T-11 |
Mission insignia |   |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | India |
| Branch |  Indian Air Force |
| Service years | 1970 – 1990 |
| Rank |  Wing Commander |
| Service number | 12396 F(P) |
| Conflicts | 1971 Indo-Pakistani War |
| Awards |  Ashok Chakra Hero of the Soviet Union |
| Spouse | Madhu Sharma |
| Children | 3 |
Rakesh Sharma (born 13 January 1949) is anIndiancosmonaut and apilot of theIndian Air Force. He became the first Indian to travel toouter space, when he flew aboardSoyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of theSovietInterkosmos programme.
Rakesh Sharma was born on 13 January 1949 inPatiala into aPunjabi family. He attendedSt. George's Grammar School and graduated fromNizam College,Hyderabad.[1] He joined theNational Defence Academy as an air force plebe in July 1966.[2]
Sharma married Madhu, and the couple have three children including film director Kapil Sharma.[3]
Sharma was commissioned into theIndian Air Force (IAF) as a pilot in 1970.[4] He flew 21 combat missions piloting theMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 during theBangladesh Liberation War in 1971.[5] In 1984 ,he was promoted to the rank ofsquadron leader.[1] On 20 September 1982, he was selected for space travel as part of a joint programme between the IAF and the SovietInterkosmos space agency.[6]
Sharma became the first Indian to travel toouter space when he flew aboard the SovietSoyuz T-11 mission, launched fromBaikonur Cosmodrome in theKazakh Soviet Socialist Republic on 3 April 1984.[7] TheSoyuz-T spacecraft carried a three member crew, consisting of the ship's commanderYury Malyshev, flight engineerGennadi Strekalov, and Sharma as a researchcosmonaut. It docked with theSalyut 7 orbital station, and Sharma spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes aboard the Salyut 7 during which his team conducted scientific and technical studies which included forty-three experimental sessions. His work was mainly in the fields of bio-medicine and remote sensing.[6] The crew landed back on 11 April 1984. After landing, the crew held a joint news conference atMoscow in the presence of Soviet officials and thenIndian prime ministerIndira Gandhi. When Gandhi asked Sharma how India looked from outer space, he replied, "Sare Jahan Se Accha" (better than the whole world), in a reference to a poem byAllama Iqbal. With Sharma's voyage, India became the 14th nation to send a man to outer space.[6]
Sharma retired as awing commander from the IAF and later joinedHindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 1987. He initially served as the chief test pilot at the HAL division atNashik before moving toBangalore to work as the company's chief test pilot. He retired from flying in 2001.[8]
Sharma was conferred the honour of theHero of the Soviet Union upon his return from space, and is the only Indian to have been conferred this honour. India also conferred its highest peacetime gallantry award, theAshoka Chakra, on him and the two Soviet members of his mission, Malyshev and Strekalov.[6]
The citation for theAshoka Chakra reads as follows:[9]
Gazette Notification: No.57-Pres/85 dated 7th May 1985
Date of Award: 3 April 1984
CITATIONSQUADRON LEADER RAKESH SHARMA
(12396) FLYING (PILOT)In January 1982, when it was decided that an Indian would go into space on a Soviet space ship, Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma volunteered for this very challenging mission. After a very rigorous selection process, which included a most exacting medical test, he was selected as one of the two cosmonaut candidates from among 150 highly qualified and experienced pilots of the Indian Air Force. After his selection, he underwent training as a cosmonaut at YURI GAGARIN CENTRE in the USSR, where he applied himself with total devotion and dedication and won acclaim from Soviet Space experts. Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma completed a most arduous training schedule, with distinction and with exceptional professionalism.
On 3 April 1984, Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to orbit in space. He carried out all the scientific experiments planned for the joint Indo-Soviet Space Mission and other tasks assigned to him with great facility and excellence. Sqn Ldr Sharma has not only carved out a place for himself in the space roll of honour but has brought glory and credit to the nation.
Squadron leader Rakesh Sharma has thus displayed most conspicuous daring and courage to become the first Indian to go into space.
  | |||
 |  |  |  |
| Ashok Chakra | Paschimi Star | Sangram Medal | |
| Sainya Seva Medal | Videsh Seva Medal | 25th Anniversary of Independence Medal | 9 Years Long Service Medal |
A biographicalHindi-language film titledSaare Jahaan Se Achcha (formerlySalute), is under pre-production since 2018.[10]
| Organisations |
|  | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Programmes | |||||||
| Satellites | |||||||
| Space observatories |
| ||||||
| Lunar and planetary spacecraft | |||||||
| Human spaceflight | |||||||
| Launch vehicles |
| ||||||
| Engines |
| ||||||
| Spaceports | |||||||
| Research facilities | |||||||
| Communications | |||||||
| Legislation and policy | |||||||
| Private companies | |||||||
| Related |
| ||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
