First Afghan Astronaut

Abdul Ahad Mohmand, who was born on January 1, 1959 in Sardah, Afghanistan, made history as the first Afghan citizen to venture into space. He received his education in Afghanistan before enrolling at the Gagarin Military Air Academy in Monino, which is now in Russia, in 1987. Upon completing his studies, Mohmand joined the Afghan air force and rose to the rank of colonel during his tenure.

Abdul Ahad Mohmand was selected as a cosmonaut candidate in February 1988 for a mission to the Mir space station. Originally a backup for Mohammad Dauran Ghulam Masum on the Soyuz TM-6 mission, Mohmand became part of the primary flight crew after Masum was disqualified due to appendicitis. Following his cosmonaut training, Mohmand launched into space as a research cosmonaut on August 29, 1988, with Soviet cosmonauts Vladimir Lyakhov and Valery Polyakov. During his time at the Mir space station, Mohmand conducted joint research experiments with Lyakhov and Polyakov and took observations of Afghanistan from space.

Mohmand and Lyakhov departed Mir on September 6 aboard Soyuz TM-5, but their initial landing attempt failed due to sunlight interference. Lyakhov ordered a second retrofire attempt, which was also unsuccessful. Despite being trained not to disturb Lyakhov during Soyuz flights, Mohmand noticed that the computer was proceeding with the first landing attempt, which would have resulted in the jettisoning of the rocket engine necessary for their return to Earth. He brought this to Lyakhov's attention, and the descent program was stopped. The crew then spent an additional 24 hours in the descent module before successfully deorbiting and returning safely to Earth on September 7.

Mohmand spent nearly nine days in space and was recognized for his achievement with the Order of Lenin and the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Mohmand's flight to Mir as the first Afghan citizen in space aboard a Soviet spacecraft took place during the height of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, giving it immense symbolic significance. Following the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan, Mohmand became a political refugee and eventually settled in Stuttgart, Germany, where he later became a citizen.