Abdul Ahad Momand, Afghanistan’s first and only astronaut, was laid to rest in Kabul on Monday after his body was transferred from Germany, where he died last month at the age of 67.
An official funeral ceremony was attended by Taliban officials, members of Momand’s family, former colleagues, friends and members of the public. His body was returned to Afghanistan at the request of his family after he passed away in the German city of Stuttgart on June 21 following years of living abroad.
Born in Ghazni Province on January 1, 1959, Momand made history in 1988 when he traveled into space as part of a Soviet scientific mission aboard the Soyuz TM-6 spacecraft. His mission made him the first—and so far the only—Afghan citizen to travel into space, securing his place in the country’s scientific and historical legacy.
Beyond its scientific significance, Momand’s spaceflight became a symbol of national achievement and inspired generations of Afghans. Despite decades of political upheaval and conflict, he remained widely recognized as one of Afghanistan’s most accomplished scientific figures.
His burial marks the final chapter in the life of a man whose achievements reached beyond Afghanistan’s borders. His legacy continues to represent a rare moment of scientific distinction in the country’s modern history and remains a lasting source of national pride.
