Rakesh Sharma

The first Indian in space , Rakesh Sharma was born on 13 January 1949 in Patiala , Punjab to Hindu Gaur parents . His early education was at St.George’s grammar school , Hyderabad , India . He was admitted to the National Defense Academy as an air force plebe in July 1956 . A focused and a dedicated student, he was commissioned into the IAF( Indian Air Force) in 1970 to become a pilot . Sharma rapidly progressed through the ranks . In 1971 , he flew the Mikoyan-Gurabich a Russian jet .The same year war broke out . Sharma flew missions in his MiG aircraft with considerable success . He was a squadron with the Indian air force . As part of a joined program between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Soviet Inter-Cosmos Space Program , he flew into space in 1984 . Sharma flew in the Russian rocket , Soyuz T-11 from Baikonur in Moscow on 2 April 1984 . He was conferred with the honor of hero of soviet union upon his return from space . The Indian Government awarded Rakesh Sharma and the other two soviet members of his mission with the ‘Ashok Chakra’ . He joined the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in 1987 after retiring with the rank of wing commander . He served as a chief test pilot in the H.A.L Nasik division until 1992 . Thereafter , he moved to Banglore and worked as a chief test pilot of H.A.L . Sharma retired from test flying in 2001 . Currently Rakesh Sharma is the chairperson for the Automated Workflow.