As Rakesh Sharma Turns 70, Let’s Take A Look At His Journey As A Cadet to Pilot In Indian Air Force

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As Rakesh Sharma Turns 70, Let’s Take A Look At His Journey As A Cadet to Pilot In Indian Air Force

Rakesh Sharma is a former Indian Air Force pilot who becomes the first Indian citizen to travel in space who flew aboard Soyuz T-11, launched on 2 April 1984, as part of the Interkosmos programme. His biopic is now in making which made headlines from the past few months. Shahrukh Khan has signed the film which will be directed by Mahesh Mathai and produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Screwvala under their banners Roy Kapur Films and RSVP Films respectively.

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Rakesh turns a year older today, born on 13, 1949 in Patiala, Punjab. On his 70th birthday, let’s take a look at his journey from a cadet in Indian Air Force to a Pilot in 1970.

At the age of 18, he joined the Indian Air Force as a cadet in 1966. After which he was admitted to the National Defence Academy as an air force plebe in July 1966. Sharma was commissioned into the Indian Air Force to become a pilot in 1970.

As a test pilot, Rakesh was commissioned as a major member of war operation against Pakistan.

On September 20, 1982, he was elected to travel into space as a cosmonaut as part of a joint programme by ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos space programme.

He stayed in the outer space for about 21 hours and 40 minutes. He carries out scientific and technical studies in which he was mainly involved in bio-medicine and remote sensing.

While in space, he and his crew made a television news conference with Moscow officials and the former Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.

Rakesh Sharma told Indira Gandhi ‘Saare Jahan Se Achcha’ when asked about how India looked from outer space.

After his journey to space, Sharma was awarded the Hero of Soviet Union. He was also felicitated with Ashoka Chakra by the Indian Government.

Published by Soniya Kaur on 12 Jan 2019

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