Muhammed Faris
Encyclopedia
Muhammed Ahmed Faris (born May 26, 1951) is a Syria
n 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 September 30, 1985.
He flew as Research Cosmonaut 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 July 30, 1987. He was also awarded the Order of Lenin
.
After his spaceflight, he returned to the Syrian Air Force and lives in Aleppo. He is married and has three children.
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n military aviator. He was the first Syrian and the second Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
in space.
Born in Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, Syria, he was a pilot in the Syrian Air Force
Syrian Air Force
The Syrian Air Force is the Aviation branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. It was established in 1948.-History:The end of World War II led to a withdrawal of the United Kingdom and France from the Middle East, and this included a withdrawal from Syria...
with the rank of a colonel. He specialized in navigation when he was selected to participate in the Intercosmos
Intercosmos
Interkosmos was a space program of the Soviet Union designed to include members of military forces of allied Warsaw Pact countries in manned and unmanned missions...
spaceflight program on September 30, 1985.
He flew as Research Cosmonaut on Soyuz TM-3
Soyuz TM-3
-Mission parameters:*Mass: 7100 kg*Perigee: 297 km*Apogee: 353 km*Inclination: 51.6°*Period: 91.0 minutes...
to the Mir
Mir
Mir was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, at first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. Assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996, Mir was the first modular space station and had a greater mass than that of any previous spacecraft, holding the record for the...
space station in July 1987, spending 7 days 23 hours and 5 minutes in space. He returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-2
Soyuz TM-2
-Mission parameters:*Mass: 7100 kg*Perigee: 341 km*Apogee: 365 km*Inclination: 51.6°*Period: 91.6 minutes-Mission highlights:...
.
Muhammed Faris was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
on July 30, 1987. He was also awarded the Order of Lenin
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
.
After his spaceflight, he returned to the Syrian Air Force and lives in Aleppo. He is married and has three children.