Rakesh Sharma : The first Indian to fly into space

Rakesh Sharma was born on January 13, 1949 in Patiala, Punjab. He was a squadron leader with the Indian Air Force, when he flew into space in 1984 as part of a joint programme between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Soviet Intercosmos space program.  He joined two other Soviet cosmonauts aboard the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft which blasted off on April 2, 1984.
 

Rakesh Sharma spent 7 Days 21 Hours 40 Minutes in space on board the Salyut 7 space station of Soviet Union. He conducted an Earth observation program concentrating on India along with life sciences and materials processing experiments during the mission. He conducted multi-spectral photography of northern India in anticipation of the construction of hydroelectric power stations in the Himalayas. In a famous conversation, he was asked by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi how India looked from space, to which he replied, ''Main binaa jhijhak ke keh sakta hoon.., Sare Jahan Se Achcha"( Sare Jahan Se Achcha - Best in the world).

 

He was conferred with the honour of Hero of Soviet Union upon his return from space. The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society. Rakesh Sharma is the only Indian to receive that award, which was abolished following the Soviet Union collapse.

 

The Government of India conferred its highest gallantry award (during peace time), the Ashoka Chakra, an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield, on him and the other two Soviet members of his mission.

 

He retired with the rank of Wing Commander. He joined the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in 1987 and served as Chief Test Pilot in the HAL Nashik Division until 1992, before moving on to Bangalore to work as the Chief Test Pilot of HAL. He retired from test flying in 2001.