India's First Cosmonaut: From Left, Flight Engineer Gennadi Strekalov, Research Cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma & Commander Yury Malyshev

The Indian Space Research Organisation is working on a manned space flight, Gaganyaan, which aims to send three humans into space for 5-7 days, with the spacecraft placed in orbit 300-400 km from the Earth’s surface. In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a deadline of 2022 for this mission. As the first Indian to have travelled in space, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (Retd) spoke with Rohit E David on this mission as well his own memories of being in space:

What is your opinion of India’s plans for its first manned space mission by 2022?

It is a good strategic move. In a way, a declaration of intent; an expression of confidence by Isro, that it is now ready to test its expertise at the next level. Space is the future and India has the scientific credentials to be a player in this exciting new field. Apart from satisfying our innate urge to explore, we also need a plan B for survival of the human race.

Given the profligate consumption of limited resources available on planet Earth, sustainable development is just not possible if we keep pursuing non-sustainable lifestyles. I do not see any evidence of meaningful action in this respect by nation states.

Also, we live with the possibility of an asteroid hit wiping out our civilisation. The human genome needs to be backed up elsewhere. In response, space exploration activities are already being revived by developed nations with the private sector getting ready to assist these governments in this challenging endeavour.

Sqd Ldr Rakesh Sharma during training in Star City, Russia - In the Soyuz-11 space station

Should we have started this journey earlier?

Personally speaking, yes, because then I could have shared my experience and knowledge with Isro upon my return and continued with my astronaut career. That said, I appreciate and respect the fact that Isro has reached where it presently is because it remained steadfast in delivering on the mandate given to it, that of making the benefits of space applications technology trickle down to the common man. It has been successful in realising that objective because of its focussed approach.

Are you satisfied with priorities and funding for space-related projects?

Yes, I am. I think for a relatively young developing nation, India has done spectacularly well in this domain despite funding constraints being a part of the national developmental landscape, ever since Independence. Today, India runs the cheapest space programme in the world and I feel she has received the maximum return on investment when compared with all other space faring nations.

What do you want India to achieve in space?

It is like this, there is no point in trying to play catch-up. In the field of space, India has never done so. She has gone her own way and leveraged space technology to derive socioeconomic benefits for her people during the period that USA and USSR were engaged in a race to the Moon and China commenced its manned space program.

Now that technology has advanced and humans are getting ready for the first time to colonise space, there is a window of opportunity for humankind to move away from the existing non-sustainable economic model that is exclusive in nature and instead establish a new developmental paradigm that is inclusive. For this to happen, future space activity will need to be governed differently. Cooperation rather than confrontation is the way forward.

I would want India to play a unifying role in this endeavour by shaping future international space policy; by being a leading agent of this change; by being the ‘voice of reason’. If we persist with our exclusive, ‘for profit’ exploration model while trawling for resources for the use of only select nations back on Earth, we shall be exporting conflict into outer space. It is time we cooperate and explore for the greater good of humankind back on Earth. Work towards Star Peace instead of Star Wars!

Can you share with us your memories of being in space?

Memories have somewhat dimmed now but what remains unforgettable is the awesome beauty of our home planet, standing out in stark contrast while surrounded by a hostile environment incapable of sustaining human life. Like everybody else who has been to space, it was hard for me not to notice that borders are not visible from space. Also, that no matter where our species may migrate to in future, that destination will always be a home away from home. Planet Earth shall always remain our ancestral home.

Are you still in touch with the Russian astronauts from your mission?

Sadly, No. Both Yuri Malyshev and Gennadi Strekalov have passed on and are now one with the stars.