The Indian Air Force (IAF) paid tribute to Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, marking the 40th anniversary of his historic space journey, becoming the first Indian to venture into outer space. On April 3, 1984, Sharma made history by boarding the Soviet rocket Soyuz T-11 and embarking on a space voyage.
The IAF, in a post on social media platform X, commemorated this significant event, stating, “As India progresses towards the Gaganyaan Mission, today we remember the heroic space flight undertaken by then Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma. The first Cosmonaut of India, Sqn Ldr Rakesh undertook his space journey on this day, 40 years ago.”
As #India charters it path towards the #Gaganyaan Mission, on this day, we remember the heroic space flight undertaken by then Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma.
The first Cosmonaut of India, Sqn Ldr Rakesh undertook his space journey on this day, 40 years ago.#सारे जहाँ… pic.twitter.com/Svcm1Gm1uG— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 3, 2024
Recalling the iconic moment, the IAF also shared a line from the renowned patriotic song ‘Saare Jahan Se Achcha,’ penned by poet Allama Iqbal. This same verse was famously quoted by Rakesh Sharma when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inquired about how India appeared from space.
Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s space odyssey began on April 3, 1984, as he boarded the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. His journey lasted 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes, making India the 14th nation to venture into outer space.
Upon reaching the Salyut 7 Orbital Station, Sharma, along with the Soviet crew members, conducted various scientific studies and experiments. His tasks ranged from remote sensing to bio-medicine, showcasing India’s capabilities in space research. The crew even engaged in a conference with space officials during their time aboard.
For his remarkable achievements, Sharma was honored with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, making him the sole Indian to receive this prestigious accolade. In recognition of his contributions, India bestowed upon him the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award.
The legacy of Rakesh Sharma’s space mission lives on as India advances its human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred astronaut wings to four astronaut-designates for the Gaganyaan mission. These Indian Air Force pilots, including Group Captain Prashanth Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, underwent rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia.
The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate India’s capability for human spaceflight by sending a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission, returning safely to Earth by landing in the Indian sea waters.
Several critical technologies are being developed for the Gaganyaan mission, including a human-rated launch vehicle, a Life Support System to ensure crew safety in space, crew emergency escape provisions, and effective crew management for training and recovery. Precursor missions such as the Integrated AirDrop Test (IADT), Pad Abort Test (PAT), and Test Vehicle (TV) flights are planned to demonstrate Technology Preparedness Levels before the actual Human Space Flight mission.
The Gaganyaan mission has designated the LVM3 rocket, the reliable heavy lift launcher of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), as the launch vehicle. As India continues to make strides in space exploration, the Gaganyaan mission stands as a testament to the nation’s commitment to scientific advancement and exploration beyond Earth’s boundaries.
