Soyuz T-11 launched on 3 April 1984 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying Rakesh Sharma to become the first Indian citizen to reach outer space. As a research cosmonaut during this joint mission with the Soviet Interkosmos programme, he completed a multi-day flight that marked a significant milestone in international aeronautical cooperation and Indian scientific history.
Military Aviation Career
Born in Patiala on 13 January 1949, Sharma pursued an early career in the Indian Air Force. He entered the National Defence Academy in July 1966 and received his commission as a pilot in 1970. During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, he flew 21 combat missions in a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. By 1984, he had achieved the rank of squadron leader.
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Selected in September 1982 for space flight, Sharma underwent intensive training at the Yuri Gagarin Centre in the USSR. Aboard the Soyuz T-11, he joined commander Yury Malyshev and flight engineer Gennadi Strekalov. The team docked with the Salyut 7 orbital station, where Sharma spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes. He performed forty-three experimental sessions focusing on bio-medicine and remote sensing before returning to Earth on 11 April 1984.
Post-Flight Contributions
Following his space mission, Sharma continued his involvement in aviation through Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Joining the company in 1987, he served as a chief test pilot at the Nashik division and later in Bangalore. He concluded his active flying career in 2001, leaving a legacy as an influential figure in Indian test piloting and aeronautics.
Honours and Recognition
Sharma received international and national accolades for his mission. He was designated a Hero of the Soviet Union and awarded the Order of Lenin. In India, he was the recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, the nation's highest peacetime gallantry award. The mission cemented his status in the Indian space roll of honour and established the precedent for subsequent Indian human spaceflight initiatives.
Fast facts
- Born: 13 January 1949, Patiala
- Mission: Soyuz T-11
- Launch Date: 3 April 1984
- Spacecraft: Salyut 7
- Highest Military Rank: Wing commander
- Awards: Ashoka Chakra, Hero of the Soviet Union, Order of Lenin
- Education: Nizam College, Osmania University
- Nationality: India
Questions readers ask
Was Rakesh Sharma the first Indian in space?
Yes, he became the first Indian to travel to outer space when he participated in the Soviet Soyuz T-11 mission in 1984.
What was his primary occupation after retiring from the air force?
He worked as a chief test pilot for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited from 1987 until his retirement from flying in 2001.
Achievements
- Educated at North-Eastern Hill University, Osmania University and St. Ann's High School, Secunderabad
- Worked as astronaut, military personnel and aircraft pilot