India’s First Man in Space, Rakesh Sharma, Turns 71 Today!
The social media celebrates the birthday of Rakesh Sharma, the First Indian man in Space. Watch rare video, Sharma in conversation with Ms Indira Gandhi, from space.
Happy Birthday Rakesh Sharma! India’s first man in space turns 71 today, and the social media is flooded with rare videos and good wishes!
It was the 2nd of April, in the year 1984, history was in making. A 35-ish Indian Air Force Pilot flew aboard the Soviet rocket Soyuz T-11 launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. And that was it, folks! The first and only Indian citizen in space, and 128th human to date, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, AC had already anchored his much-deserved place as one of the legends of India, the nation will never forget!
A joint television news conference was held by the crew, with the officials in Moscow and then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. When Ms Gandhi asked, how our country, India appeared from outer space, Sharma replied by quoting Iqbal’s classic poetry turned song, “Saare Jahan Se Acchha”.
Watch the rare video right here:
🙏HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
— Him Anshu (@Himansh91694280) January 13, 2020
THE FIRST INDIAN 🇮🇳 MAN IN SPACE
"RAKESH SHARMA'
WHEN FORMER PM INDIRA GANDHI
ASKED- 'UPAR SE BHARAT🇮🇳 KAISA
DIKHTA HAI AAPKO? HIS ANSWER
WAS- 'SAARE JAHAAN SE ACHCHA'🙏#Rakeshsharma pic.twitter.com/0SQ7aVgRZB
Rakesh Sharma's duration of stay in space was 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes!
Rakesh Sharma is the only Indian to be conferred with the honour of the Hero of the Soviet Union upon his return from space. Sharma had also been honoured with the highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra.
Here’s how the netizens wished Rakesh Sharma on his 71st birthday:
And, my superhero from childhood and big brother, Wg Cdr #RakeshSharma (Retd), Ashok Chakra, turns 71 today. Wishing him good health, happiness & tonnes of energy to inspire future generations. He is one of the Mentors of @iif_beinspired & @billionbeatz. #HappyBirthday#SpaceGeek pic.twitter.com/4xTxjQySXR
— Anantha Krishnan M 🇮🇳 (@writetake) January 13, 2020
As a part of Soviet Space Program, Interkosmos, IAF pilot #RakeshSharma was selected for the space flight aboard Russian spacecraft Soyuz T-11.
— Mintage World (@MintageWorld) January 13, 2020
Read more here: https://t.co/37Qu7W1Vxu pic.twitter.com/SSXcZNNxyM
@isro @NASA Birthday wishes to the first indian #astronaut who has been in space.
— Ashwini 🇮🇳 (@asbhonge) January 13, 2020
Happy birthday #RakeshSharma ji pic.twitter.com/FiZQrAp9BI
