Mirosław Hermaszewski holds the distinction of being the first and only Polish citizen to travel into outer space. His journey commenced in 1978 aboard the Soviet Soyuz 30 spacecraft, an achievement that made him the 89th human to leave Earth's atmosphere. He maintained a long career as a military officer, pilot, and cosmonaut throughout the twentieth century.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1941 in Lipniki, Wołyń Voivodeship, Hermaszewski grew up during the volatile period of the Second World War. Following the conflict, his family was forcibly relocated to Wołów, near Wrocław. He developed an early interest in aviation and mastered gliding in 1960. He later pursued formal military education, graduating from the Polish Air Force University and eventually attending the General Staff Academy between 1968 and 1971.
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Hermaszewski completed pilotage training in Grudziądz in 1961 before training as a fighter pilot at the School of Eaglets in Dęblin. By 1964, he had achieved the rank of podporucznik and was assigned to an air defence regiment in Poznań. Throughout his service, he commanded various squadrons in Słupsk, Gdynia, and Wrocław. His experience encompassed a wide range of aircraft, including the MiG-15, MiG-21, and the MiG-29.
The Interkosmos Mission
Selected in 1976 from over 500 candidates, Hermaszewski underwent rigorous physical and psychological training at Star City, near Moscow. In June 1978, he joined Soviet cosmonaut Pyotr Klimuk for the Soyuz 30 mission. The pair reached the Salyut 6 space station, where they remained for eight days, performing eleven scientific experiments and orbiting the Earth 126 times before landing in the steppes of Kazakhstan.
Public Recognition and Later Years
Following his spaceflight, Hermaszewski received numerous state honours, including the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin. In 1985, he co-founded the Association of Space Explorers and served as President of the Polish Astronautical Society from 1986 to 1990. He attained the rank of brigadier general before his death in Warsaw in 2022, where he was interred at the Powązki Military Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1941, Lipniki
- Died: 2022, Warsaw
- Spaceflight: Soyuz 30 (1978)
- Rank: Brigadier general
- Education: General Staff Academy
- Notable Award: Hero of the Soviet Union
Questions readers ask
Was Hermaszewski the only Pole in space?
Yes, he remains the only Polish national to have traveled to outer space.
What was his role on the Soyuz 30 mission?
He served as a Research Cosmonaut on the mission to the Salyut 6 space station.
Achievements
- Educated at General Staff Academy, Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia and Polish Air Force University
- Worked as military officer, aircraft pilot and astronaut
