Nationality Afghan Selection 1988 First space flight Soyuz TM-5 Status Retired Mission insignia Rank Colonel | Alma mater Kabul University Name Abdul Mohmand Other occupation Pilot Time in space 8d 20h 26min Role Aviator | |
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Born January 1, 1959 (age 65)
Sardah, Afghanistan ( 1959-01-01 ) Space missions Soyuz TM-6, Soyuz TM-5, Mir Education Polytechnical University of Kabul Similar People Vladimir Lyakhov, Musa Manarov, Valeri Polyakov, Vladimir Georgiyevich Titov, Jean‑Loup Chretien | ||
Afghans in history episode twenty two abdul ahad mohmand
Abdul Ahad Mohmand (Pashto: عبدالاحد مومند; born January 1, 1959) is a former Afghan Air Force aviator who became the first Afghan citizen and fourth Muslim to journey to outer space. He became one of Soyuz TM-6 crew members and spent nine days aboard the Mir space station in 1988 as an Intercosmos Research Cosmonaut. He became the fourth Muslim to visit outer spaces, after Sultan bin Salman Al Saud, Muhammed Faris, and Musa Manarov. During this mission, Abdul Ahad Mohmand was the first cosmonaut to use Pashto language after he made a telephone call to Afghanistan. Mohmand is also believed to be the first Muslim who took the Qur'an to space.
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Abdul ahad mohmand
Biography
Mohmand was born on 1 January 1959 in Sardah, in the Ghazni Province of Afghanistan. He belongs to the Mohmand tribe of the Pushtun ethnic group. Mohmand graduated from the Polytechnical University of Kabul and then from the Air Force Academy. He served in the Afghan Air Force (AAF) and later trained in the Soviet Union as a pilot and a professional astronaut.
Along with Commander Vladimir Lyakhov and Flight Engineer Valery Polyakov, Mohmand was part of the Soyuz TM-6 three-man crew, which launched at 04:23 GMT August 29, 1988. Momand's inclusion in the mission was a significant symbol during the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
During his nine days stay on the Mir space station, Momand took photographs of his country, participated in astrophysical, medical and biological experiments. He also spoke to Afghanistan’s president, Mohammed Najibullah, and brewed Afghan tea for the crew.
Lyakhov and Mohmand returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-5. The September 6 planned landing of Soyuz TM-5 was delayed because of mechanical complications on the Mir. Radio Moscow reassured listeners that Lyakhov and Mohmand were fine and in touch with Mission Control. A recording was played of them laughing. A day later, the retro-fire was successful, and at 00:50 GMT Soyuz TM-5 landed near Dzhezkazgan. During touchdown there was no live radio coverage, only live television pictures of Mission Control.
Mohmand was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on September 7, 1988.
During his flight to space, his mother was extremely distraught over the safety of her son. Afghan President Mohammad Najibullah called Momand's mother into the President's office and arranged an audio/video conference between Mohmand and her. By this event, Pushto became the 5th language spoken in space.
On his return he was made Deputy Civil Aviation Minister, but was a short posting due to the failure of Soviet forces against the Mujahideen take over.
Following the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan, Mohmand decided to emigrate to Germany in 1992 and applied for asylum there, becoming a German citizen in 2003. He worked in printing services and now as an accountant residing in Ostfildern near Stuttgart.