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Mohmand, Abdul Ahad 'Abdulah'

Person · Afghanistan

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Mohmand
Mohmand
Credit: www.spacefacts.de

Afghani pilot cosmonaut 1988. First Afghani astronaut.

Graduated from Polytechnic Higher School in Kabul. Graduated from Air Force Academy. Colonel, Afghan Air Force. Originally backup. Replaced Masum when latter had appendicitis. After the Soviet withdrawal he became a political refugee and lived in Stuttgart, Germany, finding work in a printing service. Later became a dual German / Afghan citizen.

More at: Mohmand.

Related

Family
Cosmonaut
Spacecraft
Mir
Agency
Afghan AF
Bibliography
4452, 5793

Photo Gallery

  • Soyuz TM-6
    Soyuz TM-6
    Polyakov and Mohmand move equipment around Mir.
    Credit: RKK Energia

Chronology

3 events

1988 February 12

  • International Cosmonaut Training Group selected. - . Nation: Afghanistan. Related Persons: Masum, Mohmand. Training group of Afghan 'guest cosmonauts' for a propaganda flight to the Mir space station..

1988 August 29

04:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U2.
  • Soyuz TM-6 - . Call Sign: Proton (Proton ). Crew: Lyakhov, Mohmand, Polyakov. Backup Crew: Arzamazov, Berezovoi, Masum. Payload: Soyuz TM s/n 56. Mass: 7,070 kg (15,580 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Program: Mir. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz TM-4, Soyuz TM-6, Soyuz TM-6 Mir LD-2. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Soyuz TM. Duration: 114.23 days. Decay Date: 1988-12-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 19443 . COSPAR: 1988-075A. Apogee: 228 km (141 mi). Perigee: 195 km (121 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 88.70 min.

    Transported to the Mir orbital station a Soviet-Afghan crew comprising the cosmonauts V A Lyakhov, V V Polyakov and A A Momand (Afghanistan) to conduct joint research and experiments with the cosmonauts V G Titov and M K Manarov. Returned Manarov, Titov (Soyuz TM-4), Chretien (Soyuz TM-7) to Earth. Initial orbit 195 X 228 km at 51. 57 deg. Maneuvered to a 235 x 259 km orbit, then docked with Mir at 05:41 GMT on 31 August at its 339 x 366 km orbit. Moved from aft to forward port 8 Sept 88.

1988 September 7

  • Landing of Soyuz TM-5 - . Return Crew: Lyakhov, Mohmand. Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Lyakhov, Mohmand. Program: Mir. Flight: Soyuz TM-4, Soyuz TM-6, Soyuz TM-6 Mir LD-2.

    Undocked 22:55 GMT 5 September. Jettisoned Orbital Module 23:35 GMT 5 September. Planned landing 02:15 September 6 1988 failed due to confusion of infrared horizon sensors. Repeat retrofire attempt one orbit later resulted in a partial burn only. The crew had to spend a tense 24 hours in the cramped Descent Module (the Orbital Module having already been jettisoned before the retrofire burn) before making last chance deorbit. Finally Lyakhov and Afghani cosmonaut Mohmand (Soyuz TM-6) returned safely to Earth and landed September 7, 1988 00:50 GMT, 160 km SE Dzhezkazgan.