Muhammed Faris
| Muhammed Faris | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Interkosmos Research Cosmonaut | |
| Nationality | Syrian |
| Status | Retired |
| Born |
26 May 1951 Aleppo, Syria |
Other names | Muhammed Ahmed Faris |
Other occupation | Pilot |
| Rank | General, Syrian Air Force[1] |
Time in space | 7d 23h 04min |
| Selection | 1985 Intercosmos Group |
| Missions | Mir EP-1 (Soyuz TM-3 / Soyuz TM-2) |
Mission insignia |
 |
| Awards |
  |
Muhammed Ahmed Faris (Arabic: محمد أحمد فارس; born 26 May 1951) is a Syrian military aviator. He was the first Syrian and the second Arab in space.
Born in Aleppo, Syria, he was a pilot in the Syrian Air Force with the rank of a colonel. He specialized in navigation when he was selected to participate in the Intercosmos spaceflight program on 30 September 1985.
He flew as Research Cosmonaut in the Interkosmos program on Soyuz TM-3 to the Mir space station in July 1987, spending 7 days 23 hours and 5 minutes in space. He returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-2.
Muhammed Faris was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 30 July 1987. He was also awarded the Order of Lenin.[2]
After his spaceflight, he returned to the Syrian Air Force and lived in Aleppo. He is married and has three children.
On 4 August 2012, during the Syrian civil war, he defected from Assad's government and joined the armed opposition.[3][4]
On 13 September 2012, made an exclusive interview with Al Aan TV and covered many topics regarding the Syrian civil war.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ "Syria’s first astronaut defects to Turkey: report". ArabNews. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
- ↑ (Russian) Biography at the website on Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia
- ↑ "Syria’s first astronaut defects to Turkey: report". ArabNews. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ↑ رائد الفضاء اللواء محمد فارس يعلن انشقاقه on YouTube
- ↑ Al Aan, Akhbar (13 September 2012). "لقاء خاص مع رائد الفضاء السوري المنشق محمد فارس". Akhbar Al Aan. Retrieved September 23, 2012.