How a printer-turned-pilot became the first German to reach the stars in 1978.

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Sigmund Jähn began his career as a book printer before joining the East German air force. In 1978, he made history as the first German in space, flying aboard a Soviet Soyuz mission. His journey from a small Saxon town to the Salyut 6 space station remains a landmark in international cooperation.

Born in 1937 in Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz, Sigmund Jähn initially trained as a book printer before pursuing a military career in 1955. His path to space began in earnest when he was selected for the Soviet Union’s Interkosmos program in 1976. After rigorous training at Star City near Moscow, he was chosen as a research cosmonaut for the Soyuz 31 mission. On August 26, 1978, he launched alongside commander Valeri Bykovsky toward the Salyut 6 space station, marking a significant moment in the Cold War-era space race.

During his nearly eight-day mission, Jähn conducted 25 experiments spanning medicine, biology, materials science, and geophysics. He utilized advanced equipment, including a multispectral camera for remote sensing, to study the Earth from orbit. The mission was not without peril; upon returning to Earth on September 3, 1978, the descent module experienced a rough landing. A gust of wind caused the capsule to strike the ground with high momentum, dragging it across the steppe and leaving Jähn with spinal cord injuries.

Following his flight, Jähn continued to shape Germany's space legacy. He led the East German Space Training Centre until 1990 and later served as a consultant for the German Aerospace Center and the European Space Agency. He was instrumental in supporting subsequent generations of European astronauts and was a founding member of the Association of Space Explorers. Jähn retired in 2002 and passed away in 2019 at the age of 82, leaving behind a career that bridged the divide between military service and international scientific collaboration.

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