Soyuz 39 lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on 22 March 1981, carrying Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa into orbit. This mission established him as the first Mongolian citizen to travel into space. His participation in this flight as part of the eighth Intercosmos program remains a central event in the history of Mongolian aerospace engineering and international scientific cooperation.
Early Career and Training
Born in 1947 in Gurvanbulag, Gürragchaa pursued technical education in Ulaanbaatar before entering the Mongolian Air Force in 1966. His professional training led him to the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy, from which he graduated in 1978. He also received education at the Supreme Military Institute of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic. By the time he was selected for the Intercosmos program on 1 March 1978, he held the rank of major general.
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Take the IQ test →Mission to Salyut 6
Gürragchaa served as a crew member alongside Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov. Their spacecraft docked with the Salyut 6 orbital station to conduct Earth science experiments. The mission lasted for seven days, 20 hours, and 42 minutes, encompassing 124 orbits around the planet. The pair returned to Earth, landing 170 km southeast of Dzhezkasgan.
Political and Public Service
Following his spaceflight, Gürragchaa transitioned into high-level military and political roles. He served as the chief of staff of air defense for the Mongolian Armed Forces. Between 2000 and 2004, he held the office of Minister of Defence of Mongolia. Subsequently, he represented his constituents as a member of the State Great Khural from 2004 to 2008. His life outside of government includes leading the fund for the development of bandy in Mongolia.
Formal Recognition
Gürragchaa has received numerous state honors for his contributions to space exploration and public service. These include the Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic, the Order of Lenin, and the Order of Sukhbaatar, all awarded in 1981. He was named a Hero of the Soviet Union in March 1981. In later years, he was decorated with the Order of Friendship in 2001, the Order of Honour in 2011, and the Medal for Merit in Space Exploration in 2011. Most recently, he received the Order of Genghis Khan and the Order of Alexander Nevsky in 2021.
Fast facts
- Born: 1947, Gurvanbulag
- Citizenship: Mongolia
- Military Rank: Major General
- Space Mission: Soyuz 39, 1981
- Primary Education: Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy
- Political Office: Minister of Defence (2000–2004)
- Language Fluency: Mongolian, Russian
- Notable Award: Order of Genghis Khan (2021)
Questions readers ask
Was Gürragchaa the first person from Asia to go to space?
No, he was the second Asian to travel into space.
What was the purpose of his mission on Salyut 6?
Gürragchaa and Vladimir Dzhanibekov conducted research focused on Earth science.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Soyuz 39 and Salyut 6
- Educated at Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy and Supreme Military Institute of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic
- Worked as politician and astronaut
