2020-01-13 Mon

Today, 13th of January celebrates the birthday of India’s 1st and only Cosmonaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, AC. On 3rd April 1984, Rakesh Sharma, a 35-year-old fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force, flew to space and spent eight days aboard the Russian Salyut 7 orbital space station; Creating History!

As a part of InterKosmos, a Soviet space program designed to help the Soviet Union's allies with manned and unmanned space missions, IAF pilot Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma was selected for the space flight aboard Russian spacecraft Soyuz T-11. This joint Indo-Soviet manned space flight was launched on 3 April 1984 at 1830 hrs (IST) from Baikanour Cosmodrome. Rakesh Sharma, along with Soviet cosmonauts Yuri Malyshev and Gennady Strekalov spent eight days in space and they touched down on 11 April 1984 at Arkalik, about 600 km from Baikanour. This mission was an outcome of an agreement signed between the governments of USSR and India.

Rakesh Sharma became the 1st Indian citizen to enter space. He was conferred with the honour of the “Hero of the Soviet Union” upon his return from space. He remains, till date, the only Indian to have been conferred this honour. Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma was also conferred with India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra!

We at Mintage World salute and wish Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma a very Happy Birthday!

The stamp shown in the image alongside is a 300 Paise (RS.3) postage stamp issued on 3rd April 1984 celebrating the Indo-Soviet Joint Manned Space Flight. The stamp depicts Soviet’s SALYUT-7 space station with SoyuzT-11 spaceships docked on its either sides.

Visit philamart to view and purchase variety of stamps from all over the world.