Contents
Rakesh Sharma
Becoming the first Indian to travel into space.
Soyuz T-11 · Salyut 7
- Born
- 13 January 1949
- Birthplace
- Patiala, India
More people
Rakesh Sharma
Rakesh Sharma is a former Indian Air Force pilot who flew to the Soviet Salyut 7 space station in 1984.
Early life
Education
Grew up and studied in Hyderabad.
Air Force training
Entered the National Defence Academy before qualifying as a pilot.
Career
- 1970s
Military aviation
Served as a fighter pilot and test pilot.
- 1982–1984
Cosmonaut training
Prepared in the Soviet Union for a joint mission.
- After 1984
Test flying
Continued an aviation career, including work at Hindustan Aeronautics.
Spaceflight
Soyuz T-11
Launched with two Soviet crew members.
Salyut 7
Carried out experiments and Earth observations.
National recognition
Received the Ashoka Chakra after the mission.
Beyond work
Public memory
His televised conversation with Indira Gandhi became widely remembered in India.
Space cooperation
His flight formed part of the Soviet Intercosmos programme.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Subhav Sharma. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
