Non-Soviet Cosmonauts.

Ed_Haynes · 10-09-2003, 07:53 PM

So far as I know, Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma, Indian Air Force, received no special pilot's badge for his mission on Soyuz T-11 (3-11 April 1984). He did receive HSL and Order of Lenin.

He (and the Soviet crewmen - Colonel Yury Vasilyevich Malyshev, Soviet Air Force, and Engineer Gennady Mikhailovich Strekalov) received the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest decoration for non-combat gallantry) (~George Cross). This was a HIGHLY IRREGULAR award and required special alteration of the statutes for the Ashoka Chakra. It was -- and is -- immensely controversial.

Awards of the the next level of civilian gallantry award (the Kirti Chakra) were also made to the backup crew (Indian and Soviet alike -- and were even more highly controversial). And, persunably, some Soviet awards came in the other direction?

I hope to see (and photograph) Sharma's awards the next time in India.

Ed Haynes

10-09-2003, 07:53 PM	#1
Ed_Haynes Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Earth, USA, SC Posts: 123	Non-Soviet Cosmonauts. So far as I know, Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma, Indian Air Force, received no special pilot's badge for his mission on Soyuz T-11 (3-11 April 1984). He did receive HSL and Order of Lenin. He (and the Soviet crewmen - Colonel Yury Vasilyevich Malyshev, Soviet Air Force, and Engineer Gennady Mikhailovich Strekalov) received the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest decoration for non-combat gallantry) (~George Cross). This was a HIGHLY IRREGULAR award and required special alteration of the statutes for the Ashoka Chakra. It was -- and is -- immensely controversial. Awards of the the next level of civilian gallantry award (the Kirti Chakra) were also made to the backup crew (Indian and Soviet alike -- and were even more highly controversial). And, persunably, some Soviet awards came in the other direction? I hope to see (and photograph) Sharma's awards the next time in India. Ed Haynes

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