Down to Earth | From Astronaut to Refugee

Astronaut Muhammed Faris, the first Syrian in space, landed on the Mir Space Station in July 1987. Catching a glimpse of planet Earth from the Soyuz TM-3 spacecraft window, Faris knew he’d never look at life the same again.

Lauded a national hero upon his return, Faris was awarded the highest distinctions in the Soviet Union: Hero of the Soviet Union and The Order of Lenin.

Despite this, he remained unpopular with the then head of the Syrian regime, Hafez Assad; surviving two assassination attempts while training in Moscow ahead of his spaceflight.

Here, Faris shares his thrilling story; a successful cosmonaut entrapped in an era of corruption and tyranny, forced to abandon his home, consequently becoming a refugee. He describes in vivid detail his clash with the regime, his sharp rise to fame and the struggles of life in Assad’s Syria.