The First Indian Astronaut Capt. Rakesh Sharma: A Complete Biography

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma a former Indian Air Force pilot is the first Indian to go to space. Rakesh Sharma was born in Patiala on January 13 1949. He joined the Indian Air Force in 1970 as a fighter pilot. During the Indo-Pak war of 1971 Rakesh flew for at least 21 times. He was the first Indian and the 138th person to travel in space.On April 3 1984 Rakesh Sharma went into space on a Soyuz T-11 with two Soviet cosmonauts Commander Yuri Vasilyevich Malyshev and Flight Engineer Gennady Mikhailovich Strekalov. In a joint programme of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Soviet Interkosmos Space Programme the former Indian Air Force pilot spent 7 days 21 hours and 40 minutes in space. On April 11 1984 Rakesh Sharma and his two-member Soviet crew returned to Earth and landed in KazakhstanRakesh is the first Indian to receive the Hero of the Soviet Union Award. He also received the Ashok Chakra with his two Russian co-astronauts. This biography is the thrilling story of Rakesh Sharma’s journey from a pilot to an astronaut.