Cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky born 1934

Valery Bykovsky, born August 2, 1934 in the former Soviet Union, holds the endurance record for a solo spaceflight. 

His first flight was aboard Vostok 5 in June 1963.  He was originally supposed to stay in space for 8 days but had to return early due to increased solar flare activity.

His second mission was aboard Soyuz 22 as commander in September 1976, when he spent a week in space with fellow cosmonaut Vladimir Aksyonov photographing Earth.

His third and final flight was aboard Soyuz 31 as commander launched in August 1978 to the Salyut 6 space station.  He was part of the expedition EP-4 with Sigmund Jahn, Germany's first cosmonaut.  They returned to Earth in September aboard Soyuz 29.

He passed away in March 2019.

Soyuz 29 launched 1978

Soyuz 29 launch crew

Soyuz 29, launched June 15, 1978, was the fourth successful docking with Salyut 6.  Its crew consisted of Commander Vladimir Kovalyonok and Flight Engineer Aleksandr Ivanchenkov.  They docked with the space station June 17.  Salyut 6 had been vacant for three months since Soyuz 26 left, after their record-setting stay in space.  Kovalyonok became the first cosmonaut to visit the same station twice.

About a week later, Soyuz 30 with Pyotr Klimuk and Miroslaw Hermaszewski arrived at the station but returned July 5.

The second visit, Soyuz 31 with Valery Bykovsky and Sigmund Jahn, arrived at the end of August, bringing food and supplies.  The Soyuz 31 crew left in the Soyuz 29 spacecraft and returned to Earth September 3.

Happy birthday, Sigmund Jahn, first German cosmonaut!

Sigmund Jahn, born February 13, 1937 in Saxony, Germany, is the first German native and first East German cosmonaut.  He was born before Germany was split into West and East Germany in 1945, and went into space in 1978.  The Soviet Union emphasized his accomplishment as an East Germany victory over West Germany.

Jahn's only mission in space started aboard Soyuz 31, launched August 26, 1978 to Salyut 6 with Valery Bykovsky. They returned aboard Soyuz 29 on September 3.