Photo: Marcel Antonisse / Anefo / CC0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Public records list Ulf Merbold as an astronaut, physicist and payload specialist. Ulf Merbold was born on June 20, 1941 in Greiz, Thuringia, Germany. That works out to 85 years old in 2026. Schooling on record includes University of Stuttgart. Recorded honors include Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia (1988), Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1984), Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg (1983) and 2 more.
My Take
Merbold genuinely fascinates me. Becoming the first West German in space and the first non-American to fly on a NASA spacecraft during the height of the Cold War made him a quiet symbol of crossing borders through science. Three spaceflights, two shuttle missions, and a stint aboard Mir totaling 49 days is a remarkable arc for a physicist who chose to test his ideas in orbit rather than only on paper. The wall of honors from multiple nations feels earned. To me he embodies curiosity backed by real nerve, exactly the kind of explorer worth remembering.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Ulf Merbold
- Name (Japanese)
- ウルフ・メルボルト
- Reading
- うるふ・めるぼると
- Born
- June 20, 1941 (age 85)
- Origin
- Greiz, Thuringia, Germany
- Occupation
- astronaut / physicist / payload specialist
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Snake
2. Background
- University
- University of Stuttgart
Awards & achievements
- 1988 Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia
- 1984 Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- 1983 Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg
- Order of Friendship
- Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration"
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Ulf Merbold born?
Born June 20, 1941 (age 85).
Where is Ulf Merbold from?
Ulf Merbold is from Greiz, Thuringia, Germany.
What does Ulf Merbold do?
Ulf Merbold works as astronaut, physicist, payload specialist.
Astronaut — see all → · Physicist — see all → · More people from Germany →