Soyuz-T11


April 3 - 11, 1984


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 Indian flag, Indian state seal and ISRO seal.


The Real Thing


The ISRO seal, Salyut patch, mission patch and Indian flag on Sharma's suit in a preflight photo.



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.

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