Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa

Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa (Mongolian: Жүгдэрдэмидийн Гүррагчаа; Russian: Жугдэрдэмидийн Гуррагча, [ˈʐuɡdʲɪrdʲɪmʲɪdʲɪjn ˈɡurəktɕə], born 5 December 1947) was the first Mongolian in space.[1][2] He also was Mongolia's Defense Minister from 2000–04.

Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa
Жүгдэрдэмидийн Гүррагчаа
Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa
Born (1947-12-05) 5 December 1947
Gurvanbulag, Bulgan, Mongolia
NationalityMongolian
OccupationFlight engineer
Space career
Intercosmos Cosmonaut
RankMajor General, Mongolian Air Force
Time in space
7d 20h 42m
Selection1978 Intercosmos Group
MissionsSoyuz 39
Mission insignia
Jugderdemidiin Gurragchaa
Minister of Defence of Mongolia
In office
2000–2004
PresidentNatsagiin Bagabandi
Prime MinisterNambaryn Enkhbayar
Member of State Great Khural
In office
2004–2008
PresidentNatsagiin Bagabandi
Nambaryn Enkhbayar
Prime MinisterTsakhiagiin Elbegdorj
Miyeegombiin Enkhbold
Sanjaagiin Bayar
Personal details
Born (1947-12-15) December 15, 1947
Mongolia, Bulgan
Alma materG. K. Zhukov Air Force Academy of the USSR
ProfessionAerospace Engineer
Awards
Military service
Allegiance Mongolia
Branch/service Mongolian Armed Forces
Years of service1966-?
Rank Major General
In this Mongolian name, the given name is Gürragchaa. Jügderdemidiin is a patronymic, not a family name.

Early life and spaceflight

Born in Gurvanbulag, Bulgan, Gürragchaa studied in Ulaanbaatar to become an aerospace engineer. In 1966, he joined the Mongolian Air Force. He graduated from the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy in 1978.

He was selected as part of the eighth Intercosmos program on 1 March 1978, at time he was in the rank of Major General. His backup was Maidarjavyn Ganzorig. Gürragchaa, along with Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov, departed from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 22 March 1981. They docked with Salyut 6.

While in orbit, Dzhanibekov and Gürragchaa carried out experiments on earth science. After 124 orbits and 7 days, 20 hours and 42 minutes in space, Gürragchaa and Dzhanibekov landed 170 km southeast of Dzhezkasgan.

Post-flight

Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 30 March 1981.[3] The Zaisan Memorial, a monument south of Ulaanbaatar dedicated to Russian–Mongolian friendship, includes a mural which depicts amongst its scenes Gürragchaa's 1981 flight.

Gürragchaa worked as the chief of staff of air defense for the Mongolian Armed Forces, served the Defense Minister of Mongolia in 2000-2004 and was a member of State Great Khural in 2004–08.

Personal life

Gürragchaa is married and has two children. He heads the fund for development of bandy in Mongolia.[4]

References
  1. "OpenLearn Live: 30th November 2015 - OpenLearn - Open University". www.open.edu.
  2. axcurtis@sprynet.com, Anthony R. Curtis. "Space Today Online -- Man In Space Firsts -- table of contents". www.spacetoday.org.
  3. (in Russian) Biography at the website on Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia
  4. "Bandy. Silver Mungunhuyag. Most exotic star team at the World Cup Bandy dreams to perform at Olympics". sovsport.ru. 1 February 2008.
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