ISRO has been very successful; Subhanshu Shukla will carry the torch forward: Rakesh Sharma

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April 3, 1984, marks a historic milestone in India's space journey. On this day, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma of Indian Air Force, became the first Indian to travel to space, as he flew aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11 which was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. The mission crew also included two Russians, including spacecraft commander Yury Malyshev and flight engineer Gennadi Strekalov. After reaching the orbit, the trio docked with the Salyut 7 space station, where Sharma spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes and conducted various scientific and technical experiments.
During the course of the mission, Sharma participated in a televised conversation with the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. When she asked him, how does India look from space, he famously replied, 'Saare Jahan Se Achcha'—a phrase that has since become part of India's space folklore. Sharma returned to Earth, landing safely near the town of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan.
On April 3, 1984, the Department of Posts commemorated this historic event by issuing a postage stamp and a First Day Cover. The stamp depicts the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft approaching the Salyut 7 space station, symbolizing the critical docking phase of the mission.
Via a gazette notification dated May 7, 1985, the Government of India conferred its highest peacetime gallantry award, the 'Ashoka Chakra', on him.
As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares for his international flight as part of Axiom-4 mission to become the second Indian to travel to space, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma shares his views on India's quest for the stars. Excerpts:
Q. How did it feel to be the first Indian to travel to space aboard Soyuz T-11 on April 3, 1984?
A. Although I have been following manned space programme ever since Yuri Gagarin's space flight, I have to admit that I never dreamt of ever going to space, primarily because the Indian Space Research Organisation at that time never had a manned space programme. But when we learned, we in the Air Force, I mean, that Mrs. Gandhi had asked the Indian Air Force whether we would like to send one of our pilots to space, so Air Chief Marshal Latif, who was the chief of the air staff at that time, thankfully said yes. And then this long selection process started, at the end of which Air Commodore Ravish Malhotra and myself were selected to undergo training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmodrome Training Centre just outside Moscow at Star City.
Q. How did your career as a fighter pilot prepare you for the rigors of spaceflight?
A. Well, my career as a fighter pilot, most importantly, prepared me for the space flight because the qualification that was required from amongst the aspirants, the selection was made from amongst military pilots, fighter pilots who were test pilots. And so, I was one. So was Air Commodore Ravish Malhotra and quite a few others. And then a long series of medical tests started. So, in that sense, if I hadn't been in the Air Force, at least for that flight, I wouldn't have been qualified even to get selected. So that's how the Indian Air Force helped me to be one of the aspirants for selection.
Q. Millions of Indians still fondly recall the moment when you famously described India as 'Saare Jahan Se Achha.' What are your own recollections of that historic moment?
A. Well, my recollection of that particular event. I do remember that I was extremely nervous because one doesn't get to speak with one, our country's prime minister. We were never trained for that, never had the opportunity to do that and to then do it from space near Earth orbit at a time when I knew that the entire country would be following this. So that was discomforting, you know. So, I tried to remain focused on what she was asking. And that's how that interview went. So, I know later on, it has become quite a historic sort of a reply to her question. But that was because, I must tell you that our country truly looks beautiful from space.
Q. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to take forward your legacy as he goes to the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 team. How do you view India's advancements in Space Technology from 1984-2025?
A. Group captain Subhanshu Shukla indeed is going to be carrying the torch forward. And I must say it's been 41 years and during this period, ISRO has been slowly, steadily and very, very successfully realising the vision that was given to it from stalwarts like Vikram Sarabhai and other worthies. Satish Dhawan and the various chairman of ISRO have been working towards that vision, which is to use satellite technology for the betterment of our nation, both economically as well as how the output of space would impact the lives of our countrymen. positively. So, in that sense, I must say that ISRO has very successfully realised those aims. Along with that, the science which ISRO has done has been also very commendable, whether you take missions to the moon or to Mars, which were also very successful and lately to the sun, that is the Aditya mission. So, a lot has happened and moving on towards man space programme, it is the logical next step and presently ISRO is working towards that end and I'm very confident that very shortly we will be having our own astronauts launching on our own launchers from our own space port and that will be something worth cheering about. Yes, and Subhanshu Shukla will share all the experience he is going to gain shortly on this Axiom 4 flight. And we are all looking forward to his flight and a safe return and further contributions towards the manned space programme of India.
Q. You have been closely associated with the Gaganyaan Mission, which is scheduled for next year. How crucial is the mission for India's space programme?
A. I think I have partially answered this question during my answer to the previous question of yours. So, this particular flight and the Gaganyaan mission thereafter is going to demonstrate and give us confidence in taking humans to near Earth orbit and returning them safely. And it would have proven the technology of space transportation towards near Earth orbit and back. And that is crucial for the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, which is going to be set up years from now. And then that becomes the laboratory where we are going to be doing science, quite like what is presently being done at the International Space Station. So, all this experience. is going to benefit us and we know what the landscape is going to be like and what the state of art is required to be perfected before we embark on those important missions.
Q. How do you view India's space journey today—especially Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan, and Aditya missions?
A. Well, the missions you have mentioned, Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan and Aditya missions, I must say that they have been extremely successful as has been demonstrated and reported by the media. Now, the thing is that what stands out is the frugality with which India has achieved these missions on a shoestring budget. But the technology is absolutely indigenous. And on the very first attempt, we have managed to achieve success for these missions. So, we're going to look forward to many more such scientific missions. And one thing I'd like to highlight, and that is India's approach, which is that all the science data which we have collected already from Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan and we will be doing from Aditya is freely shared with other countries. So, we are not trying to keep it to ourselves. We are sharing all the data with all the other countries so that they also benefit, even though the Indian taxpayer is paying for these missions. But then that's who we are, and that is our cultural ethos. We believe that the world is one family.
Q. What advice would you give to young Indians who dream of becoming astronauts?
A. For young Indians who are dreaming to become astronauts, all I have to say is, when opportunity comes knocking on your door, just remember to open the door. And if you think that it's going to be extremely difficult for you to become an astronaut, just remember that things are never as difficult as they appear at first glance. So, just go for it. and make sure and there are many verticals with which you can be a researcher you can be an environmental engineer because there's a lot of activity that's going to happen in the medium term when we set up colonies initially on moon and later on, mars so don't miss the bus and all the best to all of you. Jai Hind.