Nationality Mongolia Time in space 7d 20h 42m Status Living Selection 1978 Intercosmos Group | Name Jugderdemidiin Gurragchaa Rank Major General | |
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Born December 5, 1947 (age 76) Gurvanbulag, Bulgan, Mongolia ( 1947-12-05 ) | ||
Jügderdemidiin Gurragchaa (Mongolian: Жүгдэрдэмидийн Гүррагчаа; Russian: Жугдэрдэмидийн Гуррагча, [ˈʐuɡdʲɪrdʲɪmʲɪdʲɪjn ˈɡurəktɕə], born December 5, 1947) was the first Mongolian in space. He was Mongolia's Defense Minister from 2000 to 2004.
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Early life and spaceflight
Born in Gurvanbulag soum of Bulgan Province, Mongolia, Gurragchaa studied in Ulaanbaatar to become an aerospace engineer. In 1966 he joined the Mongolian Air Force. Graduated from the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy in 1978.
He was selected as part of the eighth Intercosmos program on March 1, 1978, at time he was in the rank of Major General. His backup was Maidarjavyn Ganzorig. Gurragchaa, along with Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov, departed from Baikonur Cosmodrome on March 22, 1981. They docked with Salyut 6. While in orbit, Dzhanibekov and Gurragchaa 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 Gurragchaa was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on March 30, 1981. 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.
Gurragchaa 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 2004-2008. He is married and has two children. He heads the fund for development of bandy in Mongolia.