Abdul Ahad Momand, Afghanistan's first and only citizen to travel to space, died of cancer on June 21 in Stuttgart, Germany, at the age of 67, his family and friends confirmed.
Momand, who was an air force pilot, was selected in 1988 to join a Soviet space program at a time when Afghanistan was under Soviet control. After months of training, he launched aboard Soyuz TM-6 alongside Russian cosmonauts Vladimir Lyakhov and Valery Polyakov. During his nine-day mission, Momand conducted scientific research aboard the Mir space station.
His return to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-5 was delayed by a day due to technical issues, briefly leaving him and Lyakhov in a precarious situation concerning food and oxygen supplies.
During his time in orbit, Momand expressed a desire for peace in his homeland, stating in a televised message from space that "violence cannot be seen from outer space." He also read from the Quran, a moment former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani described as showcasing Afghanistan's Islamic identity to the cosmos.
Momand's mission was seen as a point of national pride for Afghans, offering a respite from the civil conflicts of the era. Zahir Ammar, a blogger from Jalalabad, highlighted the historic significance of Momand's journey, noting that he added Pashto to the languages spoken in space.
Born in the Andar district of Ghazni province, Momand received his military training in Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. He had been living in Germany since 1992, having left Afghanistan during its civil war.
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son. Funeral and memorial arrangements have not yet been announced.