| Names |
RAKESH SHARMA, AC |
| Date of
Birth |
January 13, 1949
– Patiala, Punjab, India. |
| Identity |
Former Indian Air
Force test pilot and the first Indian to travel in space. |
|
Date-wise Events |
- 1966: He joined Air Force
as a cadet.
- 1970: After successfully
passing from the National Defence Academy, he was
commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a test pilot.
- September 20, 1982: He was
selected to travel into space as a cosmonaut as part of a
joint programme by ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos space
programme.
- April 03, 1984: He made his
flight aboard the Soyuz T-11 and became the first Indian to
fly into the outer space. He was then the Squadron Leader in
Indian Air Force.
|
| General |
- He spent eight days in space on board the Salyut 7 space
station.
- While Rakesh was in space, he was asked by the then
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on a famous conversation, who
asked him how does India look from space, Rakesh replied
"Saare Jahan se Achcha Hindustan Hamara" meaning 'Our land
of Hindustan, is the Best in the world'.
- After retirement from the IAF with the rank of Wing
Commander, he joined the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in
1987 and served as Chief Test Pilot in the HAL Nashik
Division until 1992; thereafter he shifted to Bangalore to
work as the Chief Test Pilot of HAL. He was also associated
with the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
- 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 Soviet members of his mission.
- His son Kapil is a film director and his daughter
Kritika is a media artist.
|
|
