The body of Abdul Ahad Mohmand, Afghanistan’s only astronaut, was transferred from Germany to Kabul on Monday, 15 Saratan. He passed away on 31 Jawza at the age of 67 in the city of Stuttgart, Germany. According to the announced program, his funeral ceremony is scheduled to take place this afternoon after noon at the Eid Gah Mosque in Kabul, after which he will be laid to rest at Maranjan Hill.
Abdul Ahad Mohmand was born in Jadi 1337 in Ghazni province into a farming family. After completing his education in Afghanistan and the former Soviet Union, he joined the Afghan Air Force and began his professional career in aviation.
In Sunbula 1367, Mohmand traveled to the Mir space station as a member of the Soyuz TM-6 mission and spent nearly nine days in space. He was the first Afghan citizen and the fourth Muslim in the world to travel to space, and he is also regarded as the first Muslim to take a copy of the Holy Quran into space.
During this mission, Abdul Ahad Mohmand participated in scientific, medical, and geological experiments and took space photographs of parts of Afghanistan. He also spoke with his family and Afghan officials from space, making Pashto one of the first languages to be heard in space.
After the completion of the mission, Mohmand was awarded the title of “Hero of the Soviet Union” and the Order of Lenin by the Soviet Union. He was also honored in Afghanistan and was later appointed Deputy Minister of Aviation and Tourism.
Following the fall of Dr. Najibullah’s government and the escalation of civil war, Abdul Ahad Mohmand left Afghanistan and settled in Germany. In later years, he occasionally participated in events and discussions related to the history of space exploration and Afghanistan.
The passing of Abdul Ahad Mohmand marks the end of the life of a figure whose name is recorded in the history of aviation and space exploration as Afghanistan’s first astronaut. His funeral and burial will be held today in Kabul.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
