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 22 launched 1976

Soyuz 22 crew: Valery Bykovsky, Vladimir Adsyonov

The mission objectives of Soyuz 22, launched September 15, 1976, were stated to "check and improve scientific methods and means of studying geological features of the Earth's surface in the interests of the national economies of the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic". 

However, many believe that its crew, Commander Valery Bykovsky and Flight Engineer Vladimir Aksyonov, was instructed to observe NATO exercises near Norway.  Their high inclination had not been used since the Voskhod program n the 1960s. 

They returned to Earth September 23. 

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.

Vostok 5 launched 1963

Vostok 5 cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky

Vostok 5, launched June 14, 1963, carried one cosmonaut and holds the record for the longest solo space flight.  The Soviets intended Valery Bykovsky to stay in orbit for eight days but circumstances caused them to shorten his flight to five days.

The sun was experiencing increased solar flare activity and scientists were concerned that the spacecraft's orbit might decay sooner than eight days.

Bykovsky returned to Earth June 19.

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.