First Man in Space from India, Know the Name

Rakesh Sharma achieved a noteworthy milestone in India’s foray into space by becoming the first man in space from India. His historic journey to the Salyut 7 space station, spanning seven days, 21 hours and 40 minutes, represented a pivotal moment in the history of both Indian and global space exploration.

Personal Details of Rakesh Sharma

Birth date: 13^th January 1949

Birthplace: Patiala, Punjab

Parents: Devendranath Sharma; Tripata Sharma

Wife: Madhu Sharma

Alumnus: 35^th National Defence Academy

Educational Life of Rakesh Sharma

Rakesh Sharma attended St. Ann’s High School and St. George’s Grammar School for his early education. He graduated from Nizam College, Hyderabad. His pivotal training was at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakvasla, Pune, setting the path for his historical space journey.

Professional Career: Indian Air Force

Rakesh Sharma joined the Indian Air Force as a test pilot in 1970. He became a squadron leader by 1984 and flew Mig-21 planes during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, completing 21 combat missions. On 20^th September 1982, he was picked for a special program by the Indian Air Force and the Soviet Union’s space program. He trained hard at Moscow’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center for two years. Before his space journey, he underwent a 72-hour test for claustrophobia by being locked in a room. Finally, he made history as the first Indian to travel to space, a remarkable journey from test pilot to space explorer.

First Indian to go to Space

Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to go to space. On 3^rd April 1984, he was on board Soyuz T-11, launched from Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic’s Baikunor Cosmodrome. The Soyuz T-11 spacecraft docked and transferred the three-member Soviet-Indian International crew at Salyut-7, they spent 7 days, 21 hours and 40 minutes aboard the Salyut-7. The team performed technical and scientific studies, part of which were 43 experimental sessions. Rakesh Sharma mostly worked in remote sensing and bio-medicine. In a joint TV news conference with the then PM Indira Gandhi, Indira Gandhi asked Rakesh Sharma how India looked from outer space; he quoted Iqbal, saying ‘Sare Jahan Se Accha’. Rakesh Sharma’s venture into the space made India 14^th nation to have sent a human into space and the 128^th man to go to space.

Awards presented to Rakesh Sharma

Rakesh Sharma had received several awards for his accomplishments, these are:

• 25^th Anniversary of Independence Medal
• 9 years long service medal
• Ashoka Chakra
• Hero of the Soviet Union
• Paschimi Star
• Sainya Seva Medal
• Sangram Medal
• Videsh Seva Service Medal

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