Hermann "Noordung" Potocnik

Herman "Noordung" Potočnik, 1892–1929, born in Pola, Austria-Hungary (today Pula, Croatia)

A retired Austro-Hungarian army officer and engineer, Hermann Potočnik published his book The Problem of Space Travel: The Rocket Motor under the pseudonym Hermann Noordung in 1928–29. He proposed the concept of a doughnut-shaped space station 30 meters (98 feet) in diameter in Earth orbit.