Rakesh Sharma

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For other people named Rakesh Sharma, see Rakesh Sharma (disambiguation).

Wing Commander

Rakesh Sharma

AC
Rakesh sharma.jpg
Rakesh Sharma, as a Squadron Leader in military uniform
Born (1949-01-13) 13 January 1949 (age 72)
Patiala, Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Dominion of India
(now in Punjab, India)
NationalityIndian
OccupationTest pilot at the Indian Air Force
AwardsAshoka Chakra ribbon.svg Ashoka Chakra
Hero of the USSR Gold Star.pngHero of the Soviet Union
Space career
Time in space
7d 21h 40m
Selection1982
MissionsSoyuz T-11 (launching)
Soyuz T-10 (landing)
Mission insignia
Soyuz T-11 mission patch.gif
Military career
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Air Force
RankWing Commander of IAF.png Wing Commander
Spouse(s)Madhu
Children2

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, AC (born 13 January 1949) is a former Indian Air Force pilot who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. He is the only Indian citizen to travel in space, although there have been other astronauts with an Indian background who were not Indian citizens.[1][2]

Early life[]

Born on 13 January 1949 in Patiala of present-day Punjab, India,[3] Sharma attended St. George's Grammar School, Hyderabad[3] and graduated from Nizam College, Hyderabad. He was admitted to the National Defence Academy as an air force plebe in July 1966[4] and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a pilot in 1970,[5] thereafter becoming the first man from India to go into space.


Career[]

An alumnus of the 35th National Defence Academy, Sharma joined the Indian Air Force as a test pilot in 1970 and progressed through numerous levels where in 1984 he was promoted to the rank of squadron leader.[3] He was selected on 20 September 1982 to become a cosmonaut and go into space as part of a joint programme between the Indian Air Force and the Soviet Interkosmos space programme.[6]

Cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma and his suit at Nehru Planetarium

In 1984, Sharma became the first Indian citizen to enter space when he flew aboard the Soviet rocket Soyuz T-11 launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic on 3 April 1984. The Soyuz T-11 spacecraft carrying cosmonauts including Sharma docked and transferred the three member Soviet-Indian international crew, consisting of the ship's commander, Yury Malyshev, and flight engineer, Gennadi Strekalov, to the Salyut 7 Orbital Station. 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 held a joint television news conference with officials in Moscow and then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. When Indira Gandhi asked Sharma how India looked from outer space, he replied, "Sare Jahan Se Accha" (the best in the world). This is the title of a patriotic poem by Iqbal that had been written when India was under British colonial rule, that continues to be popular today. With Sharma's voyage aboard Soyuz T-11, India became the 14th nation to send a man to outer space.[6]

Sharma retired as a wing commander and later joined Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 1987, serving as the chief test pilot in the HAL Nashik Division until 1992, before moving on to Bangalore to work as HAL's chief test pilot. Sharma retired from flying in 2001.[1]

Military awards and decorations[]

Sharma was conferred the honour of the Hero of the Soviet Union upon his return from space. He remains to date the only Indian to have been conferred this honour. India also conferred its highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra, on him and the two Soviet members of his mission, Malyshev and Strekalov.[6]

Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg IND Paschimi Star Ribbon.svg IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg
IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg
Ashok Chakra Paschimi Star Sangram Medal
Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Service Medal 25th Anniversary of Independence Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Personal life[]

Sharma married Madhu. His son, Kapil, is a film director,[7] while his daughter, Krittika, is a media artist.

Popular culture[]

A biographical Hindi-language film titled, Saare Jahaan Se Achcha (formerly "Salute"), is under pre-production since 2018.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Cosmonaut Biography: Rakesh Sharma". Spacefacts.de. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Rakesh Sharma". Mapsofindia.com. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Rakesh Sharma". aerospaceguide.net. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  4. ^ Tragedy and triumph in orbit : the eighties and early nineties. 195: Springer. June 2012. ISBN 978-1-4614-3430-6.CS1 maint: location (link)
  5. ^ "Service Record for Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma 12396 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Srinivasan, Pankaja (4 April 2010). "The down to earth Rakesh Sharma". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Kapil Sharma onsepvember 2019".
  8. ^ "Farhan Akhtar Finalised to Star in Rakesh Sharma Biopic?". TheQuint. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.

External links[]

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