Happy birthday, cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov!

Vladimir Dzhanibekov, born May 13, 1942 in the former Soviet Union, is a veteran of five space flights.

His first mission was as commander aboard Soyuz 27 to Salyut 6 in January 1978.  He participated in expedition EP-1 and returned to Earth on Soyuz 26 about 6 days later.

His second mission was aboard Soyuz 39 as commander to Salyut 6 in March 1981, where he spent about 8 days before returning to Earth.

His third flight was aboard Soyuz T-6 as commander to Salyut 7 in June 1982 for another 8 days.

His fourth flight was as commander abord Soyuz T-12 to Salyut 7 in July 1984, where he stayed for about 12 days.

His fifth and final flight was aboard Soyuz T-13 as commander to Salyut 7 in June 1985.  He remained on board for about 3 1/2 months before returning to Earth.

He has a minor planet named after him: 3170 Dzhanibekov discovered in 1979.

Soyuz T 4 launched 1981

Soyuz T-4/EO-6 crew: Kovalyonok; Savinykh

Soyuz T-4, launched March 12, 1981, carried Commander Vladimir Kovalyonok and Flight Engineer Viktor Savinykh to Salyut 6.  They made up expedition EO-6, the sixth and final long duration crew of Salyut 6.

They were visited by the crews of Soyuz 39 and Soyuz 40 befor returning to Earth May 26, 1981.

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.