Afghanistan's first and only astronaut, Abdul Ahad Momand, dies at 67

Abdul Ahad Momand, the sole astronaut from Afghanistan, has died at the age of 67 in Stuttgart, Germany, following a battle with cancer. His family announced his passing on Monday, June 22, 2026.

Momand achieved a historic milestone in 1988 at the age of 29 when he journeyed to the Soviet Mir space station. His approximately nine-day mission made him Afghanistan's first astronaut, securing a unique place in the nation's history and among global space exploration pioneers.

The news of his death resonated widely, drawing reactions from former Afghan politicians and social media users. Former Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani expressed his deep sadness, stating that Momand's nine days aboard the Mir space station helped Afghans momentarily forget the "bitter memories of internal conflicts" that plagued the country in 1988 and subsequent years.

Momand remains the only Afghan to have traveled to space, a distinction that made him a symbol of national pride. His family indicated that details regarding funeral and burial ceremonies would be announced in due course.

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Informamos a nuestros amigos, familiares, conocidos y compatriotas que nuestro amado padre, el difunto Abdul Ahad Momand, pasó a la misericordia infinita de Alá Todopoderoso el 21 de junio de 2026