Rakesh Sharma

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma AC
Rakesh Sharma, as a Squadron Leader in the Indian Air Force
Born	(1949-01-13) 13 January 1949 (age 75) Patiala, Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Dominion of India (now in Punjab, India)
Status	Retired
Alma mater	National Defence Academy Air Force Academy
Occupation(s)	Fighter pilot at IAF Research Cosmonaut at ISRO Test pilot at HAL
Space career
Indian cosmonaut
Time in space	7d 21h 40m
Selection	1982 Intercosmos (India)
Missions	Soyuz T-11/T-10
Mission insignia
Military career
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Air Force
Years of service	1970 – 1990
Rank	Wing Commander
Service number	12396 F(P)
Battles/wars	1971 Indo-Pakistani War
Awards	Ashok Chakra Hero of the Soviet Union
Spouse(s)	Madhu Sharma
Children	2

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, AC (born 13 January 1949) is an Indian astronaut and a former Indian Air Force officer. He flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. He is the only Indian citizen to travel in space, although there have been other astronauts of Indian origin who travelled to space, who were not Indian citizens.^[1][2] Another Air Force pilot, Ravish Malhotra, was placed on standby.^[3]