Today he travelled into space for the first time, the man who placed a podium for others, Rakesh Sharma is an inspiration to all of us. Born on January 13th, 1949, in Punjab, India, he flew to the Salyut 7 Space Station. After his early education from St. Goerge’s Grammer School, Hyderabad, India, he joined Air Force as a Cadet in NDA. In 1970, Rakesh was appointed as Pilot Officer in the Indian Air Force.
Then in 1971, he flew the Mikoyan-Gurevich, a Russian jet. In 1984, he was a part of a space mission owing to which he became the first man to travel to space. In 2006, he took part in a space conference held by ISRO. India sent its first astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, aboard Soviet spacecraft Salyut 7 in April 1984.
Here are some interesting and lesser known facts about the man who made our country proud.

1. Born on January 13, 1949, Sharma originally belongs to Punjab and completed his education from Hyderabad. 
2. After successfully passing from the National Defence Academy, Sharma was commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a test pilot.

3. As a test pilot, he became an important member of war operations that were conducted against Pakistan.
4. On September 20, 1982, he was elected to travel into space as a cosmonaut as part of a joint programme by ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos space programme.
5. On April 2 in 1984, he made his flight aboard the Soyuz T-11 and became the first Indian to achieve this feat.

6. The duration of his stay in outer space lasted 21 hours and 40 minutes.
7. He conducted scientific and technical studies wherein he was mainly involved in bio-medicine and remote sensing.
8. While in space, the entire crew had a television news conference with Moscow officials and the then Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.

9. When inquired by Indira Gandhi on how India looked from outer space, Sharma recited Saare Jahan Se Achcha in response.
10. Sharma was awarded the Hero of Soviet Union after his return. He was also felicitated with Ashoka Chakra by the Indian Government.​