Top 5 Indian Astronauts Who Reached Beyond the Stars
India’s journey into space has unique stories to tell and the gallery commemorates five phenomenal astronauts that reflect the hope in the country for dreams among the stars. Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian in space in 1984 and when asked how India looked from orbit, he proudly said, “Saare Jahan Se Achha.” Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian origin to go into space, is remembered for her pioneering spirit and sacrifice. Sunita Williams was born in India and holds several global records for spacewalks and endurance in orbit. Raja Chari means the new age of astronauts as he commands NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission in 2021. Lastly, ISRO’s Gaganyaan crew is the future, preparing for the first time to launch astronauts from Indian soil. Together, their journeys reflect India’s past, present and future in space exploration, urging millions to look up and dream beyond the Earth.
Rakesh Sharma: First Indian in Space
Rakesh Sharma made history in 1984 as the first Indian astronaut, inspiring generations with his journey aboard Soyuz T-11 (Photo: X | @ISROSpaceflight)
Kalpana Chawla: A Dream Beyond Earth
Kalpana Chawla became the first Indian-born woman in space, remembered for her courage and pioneering spirit despite the 2003 tragedy (Photo: X | @NASAhistory)
Sunita Williams: Record-Breaking Astronaut
Sunita Williams, with Indian roots, holds records for spacewalks and spent over 300 days in space across two missions (Photo: X | @HODLSunitaSOL)
Raja Chari: Modern Space Explorer
Raja Chari, an Indian-origin astronaut, commanded NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission in 2021 marking India’s global presence in space (Photo: X | @Astro_Raja)
Gaganyaan Crew: India’s Next Chapter
ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission aims to launch astronauts from Indian soil, beginning a bold new era of India’s space exploration (Photo: X | @ISROSpaceflight)
