By B.Nandin

A public forum titled “Let’s Talk About Space” was held in Ulaanbaatar yesterday to mark the 45th anniversary of Mongolia’s first human spaceflight and the historic joint Mongolian–Soviet mission.

The event was jointly organized by the “Peaceful World” NGO, the Journalists’ Club for Sustainable Development, and “Buteegch” production, bringing together leading scientists, engineers, and space experts.

The discussion focused on two main themes: the history of Mongolia’s spaceflight and scientific experiments, and the future of satellite technology and next-generation space innovation.

Among the invited speakers were Jügderdemidiin Gurragchaa—Mongolia’s first astronaut and Hero of Mongolia and the Soviet Union—along with prominent scientists, including academician D. Regdel and members of Mongolia’s original spaceflight team.

Experts from the National University of Mongolia and private sector representatives, including engineers working in satellite development and space technology, also took part in the second session of the forum.

The event was held at the Chinggis Khaan National Museum.

Mongolia’s first spaceflight took place on March 22, 1981, under the Intercosmos program, during which more than 30 scientific experiments were conducted in areas such as space physics, Earth observation, and biomedical research. A significant portion of these experiments was developed by Mongolian scientists.

As a result of the mission, Mongolia became the 10th country in the world to send a human into space, the 20th to develop scientific instruments for orbital research, and one of the first five countries to conduct environmental measurements in space.

Today, Mongolia continues to develop its space sector, training specialists to international standards and expanding its satellite capabilities. Since launching its first satellite, Mazalaai, in 2017, the country has participated in the development of multiple satellites in collaboration with private sector engineers.

Source: Zuuniimedee № 53 (7795) March 19, 2026

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