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Jugderdemidiyn GurragchaFirst cosmonaut of Mongolia
Date of Birth: 05.12.1947
Country:  Mongolia |
Content:
- Biography of Zhugderdemidiin Gurragcha
- Early Life and Education
- Preparation for Spaceflight
- Spaceflight
- Post-Spaceflight Career
Biography of Zhugderdemidiin Gurragcha
Zhugderdemidiin Gurragcha, the first Mongolian astronaut, made a space flight from March 22 to March 30, 1981, together with Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Alexandrovich Dzhanibekov. They conducted their mission as research cosmonauts on the spacecraft "Soyuz-39". During their seven-day mission, the astronauts worked aboard the orbital complex "Salyut-6" - "Soyuz T-4" - "Soyuz-39" alongside Vladimir Vasilyevich Kovalenko and Viktor Petrovich Savinykh.
Early Life and Education
Zhugderdemidiin Gurragcha was born on December 5, 1947, in the village of Radschant. In 1972, he completed the Junior Aviation Specialists Military School in the USSR. He served in the Mongolian People's Army and graduated from the N.E. Zhukovsky Military Air Engineering Academy in 1977.
Preparation for Spaceflight
In 1978, Zhugderdemidiin Gurragcha, along with another Mongolian citizen, Maidarzhavyn Ganzorig, was selected for spaceflight training under the Interkosmos program, which aimed to foster collaboration among socialist countries. He began his training at the Y.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, where he completed the full course for flights on Soyuz spacecraft and the Salyut-6 orbital station.
Spaceflight
From March 22 to March 30, 1981, Zhugderdemidiin Gurragcha and Vladimir Alexandrovich Dzhanibekov embarked on their historic spaceflight as research cosmonauts aboard the "Soyuz-39". They spent seven days, 20 hours, 42 minutes, and 3 seconds in space, working on the "Salyut-6" - "Soyuz T-4" - "Soyuz-39" orbital complex.
Post-Spaceflight Career
After returning to Mongolia, Zhugderdemidiin Gurragcha was appointed Deputy Head of the Administrative Department of the Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, a position he held until 1989. He later became one of the leaders of the national space program. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic on March 30, 1981. He was also honored with the Soviet Order of Lenin, the Mongolian Order of Sukhbaatar, and various medals.
