Shenzhou 1 launched 1999

Shenzhou 1, launched November 19, 1999, was first launch of the Shenzhou spacecraft and a significant milestone for the China National Space Administration which had been founded in April 1993.

Shenzhou 1 was unmanned and therefore, had no life support system and no emergency escape system.  It did pave the way for China to send its first astronauts into space.  The spacecraft orbited Earth 14 times and then successfully re-entered the atmosphere, landing in Inner Mongolia, about 415 km from its launch site.

Happy birthday, Jugderdemidiin Gurragchaa, first Mongolian astronaut!

Jugderdemidiin Gurragchaa, born December 5, 1947 in Gurvanbulag, Bulgan, Mongolia, is the first Mongolian in space.  He traveled aboard Soyuz 39 in March 1981 with fellow cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov.

First Mongolian in space, Soyuz 39, launched 1981

March 22, 1981, Jugderdemidiin Gurragchaa blasted off in Soyuz 39 and became the first Mongolian astronaut.  Mongolia became the 10th country to put a man into space.  His backup was Maidarjavyn Ganzorig, also from Mongolia but he never went to space.  Gurragchaa's fellow cosmonaut on the mission was Vladimir Dzhanibekov.

Soyuz 39 carried the eighth crew to Salyut 6.  They installed cosmic ray detectors to determine the amount of exposure spacecraft crews were receiving.  The last two days of the mission were devoted to studying Mongolia from space.  They returned to Earth March 30, spending just 8 days in space.