Introduction:
Rakesh Sharma is an Indian astronaut who flew aboard the Soviet Union’s Soyuz T-11 space mission in 1984, becoming the first Indian to travel to space. He spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes in space as part of the mission. Sharma was born on April 13, 1949, in Patiala, India. He graduated from the Indian Air Force Academy in 1970 and was commissioned as a pilot in the Indian Air Force. He flew with the Indian Air Force for 18 years before being selected as an astronaut candidate by the Soviet Union.
Training:
Sharma began his training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 1982. He was a backup crew member for the Soyuz T-9 mission in 1983 and the Soyuz T-10-1 mission in 1984. He finally flew on the Soyuz T-11 mission, which launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on April 2, 1984. The crew arrived at Salyut 7 space station two days later. Sharma and cosmonauts Vladimir Dzhanibekov and Svetlana Savitskaya conducted research during their time on the station, including studying solar flares and growing plants in space. They also completed a spacewalk to repair a faulty solar panel. The Soyuz T-11 mission ended on April 10, 1984, when the crew returned to Earth. Sharma and his crewmates landed in Kazakhstan. Sharma received the Hero of the Soviet Union medal for his work on the mission.
After Returning To Earth:
After returning to Earth, Sharma continued to work as a pilot with the Indian Air Force. He retired from the Air Force in 2001 with the rank of Wing Commander. He currently serves as a consultant to various aerospace companies and is a motivational speaker. He is currently a member of the Indian Air Force’s Space Command and serves as Director of India’s Human Spaceflight Center. He is also a recipient of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin awards.
Rakesh Sharma Wife:
Rakesh Sharma is married to Asha Sharma. The couple has two daughters, Mallika and Kritika. Rakesh Sharma is married to his longtime partner and investment banker, Madhu Sharma. The couple has a son together named Kanishk.
Rakesh Sharma Kids:
Rakesh Sharma has two daughters, Mallika and Kritika.
Rakesh Sharma Quotes:
- ” Space is an inspirational place. it makes you look at earth differently. it makes you look at yourself differently.”
- ” We all come from different places and have different experiences, but in the end, we are all human beings sharing one planet and one universe.”
- ” The sky is not the limit. there are infinite possibilities out there, and it is up to us to explore them.”
- ” Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. If you have a dream, go after it.”
- ” We need to inspire the next generation of explorers and dreamers.”
- ” Never give up on your dreams. You never know what might be possible if you just keep reaching for the stars.”
Achievements of Rakesh Sharma:
- Rakesh Sharma is an Indian astronaut who flew aboard the Soviet Union’s Soyuz T-11 space mission in 1984, becoming the first Indian to travel to space.
- He spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes in space as part of the mission.
- Sharma was born on April 13, 1949, in Patiala, India.
- He graduated from the Indian Air Force Academy in 1970 and was commissioned as a pilot in the Indian Air Force.
- He flew with the Indian Air Force for 18 years before being selected as an astronaut candidate by the Soviet Union.
- Sharma began his training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 1982.
- He was a backup crew member for the Soyuz T-9 mission in 1983 and the Soyuz T-10-1 mission in 1984.
- He finally flew on the Soyuz T-11 mission, which launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on April 2, 1984.
- Rakesh Sharma also has the distinction of being the first person to conduct a spacewalk by an Indian-born astronaut.
- He has received several prestigious awards for his achievements, including the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest civilian honor.
- Rakesh Sharma continues to inspire future generations of astronauts and space explorers with his incredible accomplishments
