Sigmund Jähn

Sigmund Jähn was an East German pilot and cosmonaut who became the first German in space during the 1978 Soyuz 31 mission to the Salyut 6 space station.

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Soyuz 31: A Soviet spacecraft that carried Sigmund Jähn to Salyut 6 in August 1978. This was Jähn’s spacecraft for his journey to the station.
Soyuz spacecraft: A family of Soviet and Russian crewed spacecraft used to transport people to and from orbiting stations. Soyuz 31 belonged to this spacecraft family.
East Germany: A socialist state in Central Europe that existed from 1949 until German reunification in 1990. Jähn was selected to represent this state in space.
First German in space: The historical distinction held by the first person born in Germany to travel into space. Jähn’s 1978 mission established this distinction.
Salyut 6: A Soviet space station occupied from 1977 to 1982, with two docking ports for visiting spacecraft. Jähn lived and worked aboard this station during his mission.
Space rendezvous: The controlled approach of two spacecraft to the same orbital position and velocity. Soyuz 31 had to rendezvous with Salyut 6 before docking.
National People's Army: The armed forces of East Germany from 1956 to 1990. Jähn served as a pilot in the East German military before becoming a cosmonaut.
German reunification: The 1990 process that ended East and West Germany’s division and restored a unified German state. After reunification, Jähn continued working in the space sector across the former divide.
Interkosmos: A Soviet-led program that sent cosmonauts from allied and partner countries on space missions. The program organized Jähn’s flight as East Germany’s representative.
Orbital docking: The joining of spacecraft in orbit through compatible docking mechanisms. Docking connected Jähn’s Soyuz capsule to the station.