Muhammed Faris
Muhammed Ahmed Faris (Arabic: محمد أحمد فارس, Muḥammad Aḥmad DMG Faris, born May 26, 1951 in Aleppo, Syria) is a pilot and former cosmonaut. He was the first and so far only Syrians in space.
Life
Muhammed Faris attended the Military Aviation School in Aleppo. After his graduation in 1973, he worked as a pilot in the Syrian Air Force. He is regarded as a navigation specialist.
On September 30, 1985 Faris was selected as a cosmonaut and included in the Intercosmos program. In July 1987, he flew on Soyuz TM -3 as Research Cosmonaut of the first visiting team of the Mir space station into orbit. After his landing with Soyuz TM-2 a week later resigned from Faris as a cosmonaut.
Awarded the Order of Hero of the Soviet Union, which he received on 30 July 1987 and to the Order of Lenin Faris returned to the Syrian air forces and holds the rank of colonel.
Faris is married and lived until the Civil War in 2012 with his three children in Aleppo.
In view of civil war in Syria, he has, sold after his conversion to the opposition on 5 August 2012 in Turkey.