Muhammed Ahmed Faris was born in Syria in 1951. When he was a child, he dreamt both of being a soldier and going to space. Faris managed to make his dreams come true. He was elected from among 155 people to be sent to space while he was a colonel in the Syrian Air Force. After two years of training, he spent seven days in space in 1987. He conducted various studies for the good of science and humanity. He was welcomed as a hero when he returned to his country. After he set foot on earth following his space journey, the first Syrian cosmonaut, Muhammed Faris did not participate in military missions, but he began to conduct training. In 1997, he returned to military service and trained pilots in his country. Faris became a general in the Air Force in 2004. The winds changed for him when he came out against Bashar Al-Assad in the face of incidents in Syria and he fled from Syria to Turkey three years ago, settling in Kocamustafapaşa with his family. The astronaut lectures children about space at Ali Kuşçu Space House, which was opened by Eyüp Municipality, and is going abroad and meeting people who had to flee from their countries like he did with the aim of helping with the normalization process in Syria.
SYRIAN PUBLIC HERO
We set off to interview Muhammed Ahmed Faris who is one of two astronauts of the Arab world to go to space. We had a quick chat with him half in Turkish, half in Arabic. Then we asked him to tell us about his space adventure. Here is what Muhammed Faris told Skyroad.
I WANTED TO BE A SOLDIER
I wanted to be a soldier, and I did it. I had a passion for space when I was a military pilot and I was quite interested in space and the unknown. Then the government had 155 people trained to send them to space, but not all of us would do that. During the two-year training period, we learned about astronautics, features of the space shuttle, and how to survive in outer space. We also worked out for two hours every day. By the end of two years, the government selected me to send to space. We spent 7 days in space. Many people think we went there for a fun ride, but we worked and conducted scientific studies the whole time. We carried out a total of 13 experiments, mainly in chemistry, physics, and medicine. We also took photographs from where we were and sent them to Syria. When I returned to my country, people's interest was spectacular. I was awarded a medal by the government. I was very happy and proud. Afterwards I began to give lectures about space.
ASSAD WAS ALWAYS CRUEL
There were problems in municipalities and villages. Assad has always been cruel. After the rebellion, he increased the violence and continued to do evil. He is still doing it. Now there is no country named Syria. I hope all these misfortunate events come to an end so that we can go back to restore our country. I wanted to come to Istanbul when I fled from Syria. Our cultures are similar and I very much like these lands. Very crowded and very beautiful, I think this is the centre of the earth... I am giving lectures about space now. I teach children gradually based on their age levels.My aim is to keep up their interest in space.
THE FIRST MOMENT IN SPACE
When I first went to step into outer space, what I felt was not fear but longing. If I was scared, I couldn't do my job. This is actually what I say to children: "Don't be scared in the face of difficult situations." If you are scared, you cannot do anything.
