Nationality Indian Rank Air commodore Name Ravish Malhotra | Missions None Selection 1982 Other occupation Test pilot | |
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Status Retired 4 November 1994 Similar People Rakesh Sharma, Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams, Gennadi Strekalov | ||
Ravish malhotra the forgotten cosmonaut of 1984 indo soviet space mission
Ravish Malhotra (born 25 December 1943 in Lahore (in present-day Pakistan)) is a retired Air Commodore of the Indian Air Force. He was an Air Force test pilot stationed at the test center in Bangalore. He was also the Air Officer Commanding of Hindon Air Force Station near Delhi.
In 1982, he was chosen to train for spaceflight in the Soviet Union's Intercosmos program. Malhotra served as backup for Rakesh Sharma on the Soyuz T-11 mission which launched the first Indian into space, but never went to space himself. Malhotra was awarded the Kirti Chakra in 1984.
Ravish Malhotra qualified as a test pilot and the highly experienced Wing Commander Malhotra was chosen to undergo training in Russia for the Indo-Soviet Space mission planned in 1984. He successfully completed the extremely demanding training schedule with credit and distinction.
Service No 7678
Branch F(P)
Rank Wing Commander
Unit : Indo Soviet Space
Reference : Gazette of India, 19 May 1984 - No.58 - Pres/85 dated 7 May 1985