Rakesh Sharma

Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian astronaut to venture into space, holds a position of pride in India’s history.Sharma Born on January 13, 1949 in Punjab.

Rakesh Sharma Education

Sharma attended esteemed institutions including St. Ann’s High School (Hyderabad), St. George’s Grammar School (Hyderabad), and Nizam College in Hyderabad. His passion for a military career led him to the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune.

Rakesh Sharma Career

In 1970 he joined the Indian Air Force as a test pilot, and by 1984 he became a squadron leader. He flew 21 combat missions in a MiG-21 in the Bangladesh war of 1971.

In 1982 he was selected as a cosmonaut in the Indian Air Force joint program and the Soviet Interkosmos space programme. He trained rigorously at Moscow’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center for two years.

Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to go to space. On 3rd April 1984, he was on board Soyuz T-11, launched from Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic’s Baikonur Cosmodrome with two Soviet cosmonauts, commander Yury Malyshev and flight engineer Gennady Strekalov to the space station Salyut 7.

The mission lasted nearly eight days, and Sharma and his crewmates landed in Kazakhstan on 11th April 1984.

Cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma on his trip to space, did yoga exercises for 10 minutes every day to test their efficacy for keeping fit in space. Between his daily routine, yoga, and exercises, Sharma captured India’s images during spacecraft passes, using multi-spectral cameras to photograph.

In 1987 he joined the Indian company Hindustan Aeronautics as its chief test pilot. He left Hindustan Aeronautics in 2001 and became chairman of the board of Automated Workflow, a process-management company based in Bengaluru.

After his retirement in 2001, he settled in Coonoor,district of Tamil Nadu.He continues to contribute to ISRO’s ambitious missions, serving on the National Space Advisory Council for the Gaganyaan venture.

Awards won by Rakesh Sharma

He was conferred with the honour of ‘Hero of Soviet Union’ upon his return from space. The Government of India conferred on him its highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra.

Other Awards:

25th Anniversary of Independence Medal
9 Years Long Service Medal
Paschimi Star
Sainya Seva Medal
Sangram Medal
Videsh Seva Service Medal

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the hero of the Soviet Union in India?

Astronaut Rakesh Sharma was awarded a Hero of the Soviet Union by the Soviet government.

How did Rakesh Sharma go to space?

On April 3, 1984, Sharma made history by becoming the first Indian to venture into outer space aboard the Soviet rocket Soyuz T-11. Launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, Sharma spent a total of 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes in space.

Did Rakesh Sharma land on the moon

No. he was selected as a cosmonaut for a joint Soviet-Indian spaceflight. He went to space.

When Rakesh Sharma went to space

On April 3, 1984, alongside two Soviet cosmonauts, Sharma embarked on his space journey.

Rakesh Sharma’s wife and children

Sharma wedded Madhu. His son, Kapil, is a movie director while his daughter, Krittika, is a media artist.