| Rakesh Sharma | |
|---|---|
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| Intercosmos Cosmonaut | |
| Born | January 13, 1949 Patiala, Punjab, India |
| Other occupation | Test Pilot |
| Rank | Wing Commander, Indian Air Force |
| Time in space | 7d 21h 40m |
| Missions | Soyuz T-11 / Soyuz T-10 |
Rakesh Sharma (born January 13, 1949 in Patiala, Punjab, India) is a former Indian Air Force officer. He was the first Indian and 138th person to travel in space.[1][2]
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Sharma was born in Patiala, Punjab to Tripta and Devendranath Sharma. He underwent schooling at Hyderabad. He graduated from Nizam College[3] in Hyderabad.
Sharma joined the Indian Air Force and progressed rapidly through the ranks. Sharma, then squadron leader and pilot with the Indian Air Force embarked on the historic mission in 1984 as part of a joint space program between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Soviet Intercosmos space program and spent eight days in space aboard the Salyut 7 space station. Launched along with two other Soviet cosmonauts aboard Soyuz T-11 on the 2 April 1984, was 35-year-old Sharma. During the flight, Sharma 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 the space and he replied, Saare Jahan Se Achcha, (better than the whole world).
He was conferred with the honour of Hero of Soviet Union upon his return from space. The Government of India conferred its highest gallantry award (during peace time), the Ashoka Chakra on him and the other two Russian members of his mission.
Sharma and his backup, Wing Commander Ravish Malhotra, also prepared an elaborate series of zero-gravity Yoga exercises which the former had practised aboard the Salyut 7. Retired with the rank of Wing Commander, Rakesh Sharma joined Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as a test pilot at Nashik Division. He was based at the National Flight Test Center (NFTC) in Bangalore and worked on the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft program.
Sharma has now retired from active employment and is currently the Chairman of The Board for Automated Workflow Pvt Ltd. [4] The Nehru Planetarium in New Delhi displays the original Soyuz T-10 capsule which, along with his space suit and mission journal. His conversation with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi can be heard there as well.
In November 2006 he took part in India's top scientists gathering [5] organized by ISRO which gave the green light to an Indian manned space mission.
Sharma is married to Madhu and they have a son Kapil, an aspiring director and a daughter Krittika, a multimedia artist.[6]
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http://www.aworkflow.com/home/management/118-chairman.html (4)
| Rakesh Sharma | |
|---|---|
| Intercosmos Cosmonaut | |
| Born | January 13, 1949 |
| Other occupation | Test Pilot |
| Rank | Squadron Leader (retired Wing Commander), Indian Air Force |
| Time in space | 7d 21h 40m |
| Selection | 1982 |
Rakesh Sharma (born January 13, 1949 in Patiala, Punjab, India) was a Squadron Leader in the Indian Air Force, was the first Indian and 138th person to travel in space. He retired from the Air force as Wing Commander. He spent eight days in Salyut 7 Space station in April 1984. He was conferred with the Hero of Soviet Union by the Soviet Government and the Ashok Chakra by the Indian Government.
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   | Spacefacts biography of Rakesh Sharma - Cosmonaut Biography: Rakesh Sharma |
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