Essays

Introduction. April 3, 1984 will be considered as red letter day in the space hovel history of India. On this day our Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma, a test pilot of Indian Army became the firsts pace Man of this great country, He along with two Soviet men voyaged into Space on Soyuz T-II speech ship which was hurled into space from Bikaner commodore in the Soviet Union. The rocket had three Stages and it weighed.300 tones.  It was blasted off into space at 6.30 p.m. (1ST) on April.3, 1984

Yuri Gagarin’s hope. Yuri Gagarin, the lather of space flight when visited India in 1972, expressed his hope that a day would come when the family cosmonauts would be joined by a citizen of India. His Hope came true alter a lapse of "about 22 years.

The cosmonaut is Soyuz T-II. Rakesh Sharma, Malyshev and Strakalove were launched into orbit abroad Soyuz T-II atop, a there Stage rocket which was blasted off at 6.30 p.m. (IST) on April 3, 1°84. From Bikaner in USSR. The blast was very smooth and within 9 Minutes, Soyuz T-II was in low earth orbit at 383 Kilometers. This6820 Kilogram space ship travelled at an average speed of 8 Kilometers Per second to dock with the already orbiting Soviet space ship Salyut-7 This is of space station it is laboratory and be home for the cosmonauts of space where these three cosmonauts were to spend Next seven days to carry out a number of bid-medical and science Experiments.

P.M's. congratulations. Our worthy late Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi sent to three cosmonaut’s wishes on her own behalf and on the behalf of Indian nation. She said with great satisfaction, Months of intensive planning and efforts have come out successful".

Rakesh Sharma. Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma was the 138^th Cosmonaut in the world. He was the 11th foreign Cosmonaut to fly With the Soviet space men. India thus is 14th country to send her Cosmonaut into space in a space ship, AII the three space men orbited Earth round the earth 120 times before they could return to the earth. They parachuted back on the earth on 11 April, 1984.

Task of three cosmonauts. The three cosmonauts were given the Task of docking with Salyut -7 which they did successfully. The Cosmonauts successfully carried out the job of checking the systems working within the space ship. Ail the controls and systems worked smoothly. Work done by Rakesh Sharma. Shri Rakesh Sharma carried out certain experiments into space. He conducted researches into yoga. The researchers also include metallurgical and technological surveys of the earth. He photographed about A) percent of the Indian Territory When his space- ship passed over India while orbiting round the Earth. This Indo Soviet work has given a unique opportunity to the Indian scientists to conduct some original experiments in the field of Space. He brought to earth these photographs. The analysis of the Photographs will enable experts to forecast hurricanes, cyclones and Dust-storms, to demonstrate the flooded areas.

Short conversation with Prime Minister. On April 5, Shrimati Indira Gandhi had a short conversation with Shri Rakesh Sharma. This conversation was televised to earth- She had a talk with other Cosmonauts also. She said to them, that they had added to the scientific knowledge of the world around us and particularly the Mysterious cosmic space. Back to earth the three cosmonauts were received by the Governments of USSR and India- in USSR they were rewarded-The Lenin order' and in India they were rewarded 'Ashok Chakra'.

Conclusion. India’s prestige has risen very high in this venture. Now she is planning to send Indian cosmonauts into the space in her own space ship in near future from Indian launching station.