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| Crew & Mission |
  Left: Soyuz T-11 cosmonauts Yuri Malishev, Rakesh Sharma and Gennadi Strekalov. Right: the crew declare their readyness for flight to the State Commission.  Gretchko, Malhotra, Berezovoi, Rukavishnikov, Sharma and Malyshev in a photo op during training at TsPK.
Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma launched along with Soviet cosmonauts commander Yuri Malyshev and flight engineer Gennadi Strekalov aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984. The mission was part of a joint space program between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Soviet Intercosmos space program.
The crew spent seven days aboard the Salyut 7 space station during which they conducted scientific and technical studies which included 43 experimental sessions.
Sharma used Yoga techniques to combat the debilitating effects of weightlessness. He conducted multi-spectral photography of northern India in anticipation of the construction of hydroelectric power stations in the Himalayas and performed experiments in the field of bio-medicine.
In a famous conversation with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, she asked how India looked from space. Sharma replied: ''Saare Jahan Se Achcha.''(Better than the whole world).
The mission patch features the horse-drawn sun chariot, travelling accross the skies, applied in manual heavy metal embroidery, and the Soviet and Indian flags. |
| The Real Thing |
Rakesh Sharma and Anatoly Solovyov compare notes during their activities on the Salyut-7 space station.
Collecting Soyuz-T11
Left: the Space Commerce Corporation reproduction, right: the Stewart Aviation version.
