Eberhard Köllner [SEP] date of birth
Eberhard Köllner
Eberhard Köllner (born 29 September 1939 in Stassfurt, Germany) was selected for Soyuz 31 as the backup for Sigmund Jähn.
He later became the Director of the Airforce Academy of the German Democratic Republic in the rank of an "Oberst" ("Colonel"), following the reunion of Germany he refused to be transferred to the (West) German "Bundeswehr". He is currently working in private industries.
External links.
- Spacefacts biography of Eberhard Köllner
German astronaut team
The German astronaut team was established in 1987. Before the establishment of the team German astronauts were selected for single missions, or as part of the European Space Agency's manned spaceflight activities.
In 1998, the team became part of the European Astronaut Corps. 
History.
In 1976, East Germany selected Sigmund Jähn and Eberhard Köllner as the participants of Intercosmos missions to the Soviet Salyut 6 space station. Jähn flew in 1978 on Soyuz 31.
In 1978, the ESA selected a first