Rakesh Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot and cosmonaut, holds the distinction of being the first Indian citizen to journey into space. This post explores his remarkable life and career.
Wiki/Biography
Rakesh Sharma was born on January 13, 1949 (age 73 as of 2022), in Patiala, Punjab, India. His education included St. Ann’s High School, Secunderabad, St. George’s Grammar School, Hyderabad, and Nizam College, Hyderabad. He also attended the National Defence Academy in Khadakvasla, Pune. His zodiac sign is Capricorn.
Physical Appearance
- Height (approx.): 5’6″
- Eye Color: Light Brown
- Hair Color: White
Family, Caste & Wife
Born into a Gaur Brahmin family to Devendranath Sharma and Tripata Sharma, Rakesh Sharma married Madhu, an interior designer. They have a son, Kapil Sharma (a film director), and a daughter, Krittika Sharma (a senior design associate and behavior architect). Sadly, they also lost a daughter, Mansi, at a young age.
Career
Rakesh Sharma joined the Indian Air Force as a test pilot in 1970. He rose through the ranks, becoming a Squadron Leader and Pilot by 1984. Selected as a cosmonaut on September 20, 1982, he participated in the Soviet Intercosmos space program with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
His space mission aboard Soyuz T-11 to the Salyut 7 orbital station, alongside commander Yury Malyshev and flight engineer Gennadi Strekalov, made him India’s first space traveler. He spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes in space. After retiring from the Air Force as a Wing Commander, he joined Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), serving as chief test pilot in Nashik and later Bangalore, retiring from flying in 2001.
Awards and Honors
Rakesh Sharma’s distinguished career has been recognized with numerous awards:
- Ashok Chakra
- Param Vishisht Seva Medal
- Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
- Vayu Sena Medal
- 25th Anniversary of Independence Medal
- 9 Years Long Service Medal
- Hero of the Soviet Union
Favourite Things
| Category | Favorite |
|---|---|
| Cosmonaut | Yuri Gagarin |
| Travel Destination | Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu |
Facts
- His ancestors originated from Multan, West Punjab (present-day Pakistan).
- He was captivated by space from a young age, inspired by Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight.
- He joined the Indian Air Force as a cadet at just 18 years old in 1966.
- He underwent rigorous, three-year training for his space mission, including a 72-hour confinement test to assess claustrophobia and intensive Russian language studies.
- He even practiced “zero-gravity yoga” to mitigate space sickness.
- Tragically, he received news of his daughter Mansi’s death while training in Moscow, yet he persevered with his mission.
- His space mission involved biomedicine, remote sensing, life sciences, and material processing experiments, including silicon fusing tests.
- His famous reply to Indira Gandhi’s question about India’s appearance from space was “Saare Jahan Se Achcha” (The Best in the World).
- Following his return, he faced intense media attention, participating in numerous interviews and events.
- He humbly attributes his space journey to chance, stating, “It’s like a lottery, meri lag gayi.”
- His achievements were somewhat overshadowed by the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots.
- He experienced a near-fatal incident during a MIG-21 test flight, but successfully ejected.
- He is often mistakenly identified as the first person to walk on the moon.
- After retiring from HAL, he settled in Coonoor, a place he had loved since his youth.
- He maintains a close friendship with fellow Air Force officer, Ravish Malhotra.
- His son, Kapil Sharma, is a Bollywood film director.
- He expresses a desire to return to space for purely exploratory purposes.
- He reported a fire in Burma while in space.
- A biopic titled “Salute” is planned, but the lead actor remains unconfirmed.
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