Rakesh Sharma Wiki, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & more

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Rakesh Sharma is a former Indian Air Force pilot and cosmonaut best known for being the first and sole Indian Citizen to travel in space.

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Wiki/Biography

Rakesh Sharma was born on Thursday, 13 January 1949 (age 75 years; as of 2024) in Patiala, Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Dominion of India (now in Punjab, India). His Zodiac sign is Capricorn. He grew up in Hyderabad, India. The family later settled in the cantonment at Secunderabad (now in Telangana). He completed his early education at St. Ann’s High School in Secunderabad and St. George’s Grammar School in Hyderabad. Later, he graduated from Nizam College, Hyderabad. He joined the 35th National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakvasla, Pune in June 1966 to pursue his dream of serving the nation.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 6″

Weight (approx.): 75 kg

Hair Colour: Grey

Eye Colour: Light Brown

Family & Caste

Rakesh Sharma belongs to a Gaur Brahmin family.

Parents & Siblings

His father’s name is Devendranath Sharma, and his mother’s name is Tripata Sharma, who taught at an army school in Secunderabad.

Wife & Children

He is married to Madhu Sharma, who is an Interior decorator. After marriage, the couple was blessed with three children, a son named Kapil Sharma, who is a film director, and two daughters named Kritika Sharma, who is a senior design associate and behavioral science professional, and Mansi Sharma. The couple lost Mansi, aged six, when Rakesh Sharma was training in Moscow.

Rakesh Sharma with his wife, Madhu, and son, Kapil

Religion

He follows Hinduism.

Address

He lives in Coonoor, Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu.

Signature/Autograph

Rakesh Sharma’s signature

Career

Indian Air Force

In 1970, Rakesh Sharma started his career in the Indian Air Force where he joined as a test pilot. During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, he flew 21 combat missions in a MiG-21 as a wingman carrying out airfield defense and border patrols. By 1984, he rose to the rank of squadron leader.

Rakesh Sharma as the squadron leader

Space Missions

On 20 September 1982, he was selected to be a cosmonaut for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Soviet Interkosmos space program. He underwent two years of training at the world-famous Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Moscow as a part of the joint program between the Indian Air Force and the Soviet Interkosmos space program. He also underwent a test for claustrophobia in Bengaluru’s IAF facility, where he was locked in a room for 72 hours for the test. On 3 April 1984, Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian citizen to enter space, when he was on board a Soyuz T-11 with the ship’s commander Yury Malyshev and flight engineer Gennadi Strekalov; the space flight was launched from Kazakh Soviet.

Rakesh Sharma (center) with his crew members

Rakesh Sharma (centre) with his crew members

The Soyuz T-11 spacecraft docked and transferred the three-member Soviet-Indian international crew at Salyut 7 Orbital Station. The three spent seven days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes aboard the Salyut 7. For seven days, they worked on 43 experimental sessions. His work on the mission was regarding the subjects of bio-medicine and remote sensing. Also, Rakesh Sharma photographed India using remote-sensing cameras, studied the effects of space on the heart, and conducted psychological experiments. The crew safely returned to Earth on 11 April 1984.

Retirement

Rakesh Sharma retired from the Indian Air Force in 1987, as a Wing Commander. After that, he joined HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) and was designated as the chief test pilot in the HAL Nashik Division, where he worked till 1992. He retired from test flying in 2001. He is still linked with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), advising them on various space missions, such as the Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts to space by 2024.

Awards, Honours, Achievements

Hero of the Soviet Union (1982)
Rakesh Sharma receiving ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’

Ashok Chakra (1985)
Rakesh Sharma being awarded the Ashok Chakra

Paschimi Star

Sangram Medal

Sainya Seva Medal

Videsh Seva Service Medal

9 Years Long Service Medal

25th Anniversary of Independence Medal

Facts/Trivia

Rakesh Sharma carried Indian food to space which included dishes like Aloo Choley, Suji Halwa, and Pulao with the help of Mysore’s Defence Food Research Lab.

He practised a unique form of yoga designed for zero-gravity conditions to combat space sickness in 1984.

Rakesh Sharma carried the portraits of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, President Zail Singh, defence minister Venkataraman, and soil from Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s samadhi.

When the then-prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi asked Rakesh Sharma how India looked from space, he answered,

Saare Jahan Se Accha”(better than the rest of the world)

Rakesh Sharma with Indira Gandhi
At Cadila Labs, a Bengaluru-based business specializing in intelligent automation solutions for insurance sector organizations, Sharma held the position of non-executive chairman in 2021.

He enjoys gardening, yoga, reading, golfing, and travelling.

Rakesh Sharma wanted to be a driver at the age of six because dropping off “Saheb and madam” would leave him with enough time to read undisturbed.

On his first solo trip to visit an uncle, he visited Nilgiri Hills and fell in love with the serene place.
Rakesh Sharma in the hills of Coonoor

Rakesh Sharma’s son, Kapil Sharma, assisted the ad filmmaker Tarsem on his feature film The Fall, Ghajini, and the Drona, and he later made a directorial debut with the film ‘I, me aur Main’ starring John Abraham.

His daughter, Kritika Sharma is a trained musician, singer, songwriter, and textile designer, and currently, she is a behavioral science professional.

Reportedly, a biopic named ‘Saare jahan se acha’ based on the life of Rakesh Sharma has been under production which will be starring Farhan Akhtar in the lead role.