Rakesh Sharma, Indian commander, pilot, and cosmonaut

Rakesh Sharma is an Indian cosmonaut and a former Indian Air Force officer. He flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. He is the first Indian citizen to travel in space, although there have been other astronauts of Indian origin who travelled to space, who were not Indian citizens. Another Air Force pilot, Ravish Malhotra, was placed on standby.

January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 352 days remain until the end of the year.