Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Biography of Rakesh Sharma:
Rakesh Sharma is a former Indian Air Force pilot and cosmonaut who became the first Indian citizen to travel to space. He was born on January 13, 1949, in Patiala, Punjab, India.
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| Biography of Rakesh Sharma |
Early Life and Education:
Rakesh Sharma joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 1966 and later the Indian Air Force in 1970, where he became a pilot officer. He received his initial pilot training in India and further advanced training in the Soviet Union.
Rakesh Sharma's Selection for Space Mission:
In 1982, Rakesh Sharma was selected as a cosmonaut for the joint Indo-Soviet space mission, which was part of the Soviet Intercosmos program. He was chosen from a pool of several Indian Air Force pilots for this historic mission.
Space Mission - Soyuz T-11:
On April 2, 1984, Rakesh Sharma flew aboard the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft along with Soviet cosmonauts Yuri Malyshev and Gennady Strekalov. The mission lasted 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes, during which Sharma conducted scientific and technical experiments in the fields of materials science, biology, and remote sensing of Earth.
Rakesh Sharma's Famous Quote from Space:
When asked by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, about how India looked from space, Rakesh Sharma famously replied, "Saare Jahan Se Achha" (better than the entire world), quoting a line from a famous Urdu poem by Allama Iqbal.
Post-Space Mission:
After returning from space, Rakesh Sharma continued his service in the Indian Air Force, retiring as Wing Commander. He received several honors and awards for his historic space mission, including the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award.
Later Life of Rakesh Sharma:
In his post-military career, Rakesh Sharma has been involved in various public and private sector ventures. He has also served as a consultant for aerospace and defense organizations.
Rakesh Sharma's space journey remains a source of immense pride for India, symbolizing the country's achievements in space exploration and technology. His famous words from space continue to inspire generations of Indians.