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India’s First Astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, Shares His Experience
in Space at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex This Fall
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Sharma will appear at Astronaut Encounter Oct. 5-9 where he will share a multimedia presentation about his space experience, including his background, training areas, mission and more. Following the presentation, guests will have the opportunity to ask questions and pose for a photo with Sharma, the first Indian citizen to travel to space.

Sharma’s passion for flying prompted him to join the Indian Air Force as a test pilot in 1970. During the Indo-Pakistani War in 1971, he flew 21 combat missions, spurring a swift climb through military ranks. On Sept. 20, 1982, he was chosen to become a cosmonaut and journey into space as part of a joint program between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Intercosmos space programs.

On April 2, 1984, Sharma blasted off into space from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan atop a Soyuz rocket. The Soyuz T-11 spacecraft eventually docked and transferred the three-member Soviet-Indian international crew to the Salyut-7 Orbital Station. The crew spent seven days, 21 hours and 40 minutes orbiting Earth and completed 43 experimental sessions.

Of the experimental sessions, Sharma was responsible for areas focusing in the fields of bio-medicine and remote sensing. A few of the experiments he performed included photography of India from space and exercises to study the effects of yoga on the body during weightlessness.

Post retirement, Sharma has directed projects for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and currently serves as chairman of the board for Automated Workflow, a process-management company based in Bangalore.

Astronaut Encounter is included in daily visitor complex admission.

About Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex brings to life the epic story of the U.S. space program, offering a full day or more of fun and educational activities, including the Kennedy Space Center Tour featuring the Apollo/Saturn V Center with an actual Saturn V moon rocket, the new Space Shuttle AtlantisSM, Shuttle Launch Experience®, IMAX® Hubble 3D and Journey To Space films, Astronaut Encounter, Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted, Rocket Garden and many other interactive exhibits. Admission also includes the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, featuring historic spacecraft and the world's largest collection of personal astronaut memorabilia, which opens daily at noon and closing times vary by season. Only 45 minutes from Orlando, Fla., Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex opens daily at 9 a.m. with closing times varying by season.  Admission is $50 + tax for adults and $40 + tax for children ages 3-11. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers multiday admission starting at $75 + tax for adults and $60 + tax for children ages 3-11. For more information, call 877-313-2610 or visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.

About Delaware North
Delaware North is one of the largest privately-held hospitality and food service companies in the world. Founded in 1915 and owned by the Jacobs family for 100 years, Delaware North has global operations at high-profile places such as sports and entertainment venues, national and state parks, destination resorts and restaurants, airports, and regional casinos. Our 60,000 employee associates are dedicated to creating special experiences one guest at a time in serving more than a half-billion guests annually. Delaware North has annual revenue of $3 billion in the sports, travel hospitality, restaurants and catering, parks, resorts, gaming, and specialty retail industries. “Delaware North” is a reference to Delaware North Companies Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries, including location-specific operating entities. Learn more about Delaware North, a global leader in hospitality and food service, at www.DelawareNorth.com.

Contact: 
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Andrea Farmer
Public Relations Manager
321-449-4318