N.Tungalag: Mongolian Khans were the first to establish international astrological studies

It is said that refuse in space has increased to a point where satellites and orbiting modules are in danger of being hit by them. At present there are around 17 thousand registered objects orbiting the earth’s atmosphere. Only a small number of them are operational and the rest have become space refuse. According to NASA, there are around 28 thousand space refuse objects of varying sizes from 10 centimetres square and up.

The following is an interview with senior researcher and PhD of Nature Study N.Tungalag of Astrology and Geophysics Centre of Science Academy. She graduated from the University of Kharkov of Ukraine in 1989 and has since worked for the Astrology and Geophysics Centre.

She specializes in physics and the behaviours of objects in the solar system and physical properties of objects orbiting in the atmosphere. N.Tungalag has calculated more than 30 small planet parameters, and placed them in the Asteroid Photometric Catalogue and the Asteroid Lightcureve Data file. Her work has been published several times in the foreign press.

-What are the results of space pollution?

-When objects floating in space collide with satellite stations or probes, it can damage or destroy the orbits; making it difficult to work in space. Satellites and other space devices have direct influence on global commutation and other data transferring activities, so it can directly influence daily lives of many. Even an object as small as 0.1 cm can cause heavy damage to space devices.

-Are there cases of collisions with objects in space?

-The first time a collision took place was in 1966. A large component of a French satellite crashed into an operational satellite and destroyed it completely. Another case was the collision of the Russian unused satellite Cosmos 2251 with USA’s Iridium 33 in 2009.

-A part of space rubble dropped in Tuv aimag’s Buren som, is there any likelihood of more space rubble landing?

-The National Emergency Management Agency and Ministry of Defence confirmed that the object that landed in Tuv aimag’s Buren som was a component of an US rocket Delta II. Rockets with many components leave the components in space when the fuel in them runs out. Estimations of the landing point of the first two components are calculated carefully. Measures are usually taken to prevent damages and casualties. It is not always possible to estimate the drop point of the third component because the component is dropped from a large distance from the earth that there are so many unaccountable variables.

-Can the landing of objects from space be predetermined?

-Everyday an object from space lands on earth but the possibility of it affecting people are very small. There is about a one in a trillion chance. When space objects enter the atmosphere, most of the mass is combusted away; hence it does not cause serious damage to the earth’s surface.

The is no way to control falling so it isn’t possible to monitor all of it. Large objects entering the atmosphere can be seen by the naked eye. With the object’s mass, speed and angle of fall it is possible to know whether it will burn out before it lands. The where and when can usually be determined three days before the landing.
-Is there an example of the calculation used to determine the falling of space objects?

-The Russian Roscosmos Agency announced three days before the landing of the Forbs-Grunt space station. Their estimation proved to be right and the Forbs-Grunt landed on January 15th 21:40 (Moscow time) in the Atlantic Ocean near South America. The station’s mass was 13 ton and 7.5 of it was fuel. Most of the mass was burnt out when it entered the atmosphere, around 20 to 30 pieces fell, their total mass was around 200kg.
-Who takes responsibility if it falls and causes damage?

-At present there aren’t any specifications regarding this.

-Some countries conduct space cleanings projects. Is it possible to fully clear-up the space refuse?

-There aren’t any effective ways to collect or eliminate space objects 600km above the earth’s surface.

There are many theories about this. For example the objects, bits and pieces of old satellites or stations can be collected and destroyed with a high intensity laser, or to release a probe that collects and recycles these objects.

Though there aren’t any simple ways to deal with this issue, there is a demand for equipment and surveillances to monitor objects falling from space. Astronomy uses radiolocation and optic methods to monitor them. The optic method uses telescopes so it’s cheap and it’s proven to be just as effective as the radiolocation method.

-A contract has been made with the Russian Astrology and Geophysics Centre’s Space Material Institute of Science Academy in 2009 to work together. When will it begin?

-The Space Material Institute of Russian Academy of Science will be conducting a study of space objects above 600km or higher orbiting objects in their project “Astrometry and photometer observational optic network.” This system has a number of telescopes located far from each other to monitor the behaviour of space objects. With this in mind observational telescopes ORI-25 and ORI-40 have been built in Ulaanbaatar. The surveillance will begin this year.

-Does the government finance the astronomy department?

-There hasn’t been any financing this year; the government does fund the study of small objects in the solar system.

-Does Mongolia have schools that specialise in astronomy?

-Currently Mongolia does not have schools that specialise in this department. Students of physics and geophysics from the National University of Mongolia and the Mongolian State University of Education are given the opportunity to study and specialise in planetary studies and astronomy. They can apply for the scholarships through the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Academy of Science. It can be hard to find people who are suitable because astronomy is not a popular choice of study. Therefore, people who specialize in this area have to be proactive and establish relations with foreign astronomical departments to share information and ideas and participate in conferences and conventions. Most astronomical specialists in Mongolia have studied in Russia or Ukraine.

-It is said that it is hard for a woman to do research and study. Why did you choose to study astronomy?
-Research work is very challenging and it requires patience and determination. To be successful in research, you need education, general knowledge, and hard work. There is no gender difference. I don’t agree with the assumption that any particular gender is somehow intellectually better that the other. There are many female astronomical specialists in the world today. There is even an association of female astronomers.
I had good grades in highschool, particularly in mathematics. I chose to study in the fields of mathematics and physics, and received a scholarship. At the time I didn’t know the pros and cons of the profession, I was just very happy to be studying abroad.

-How important is your profession in Mongolia and in the world generally?

-Mongolia hasn’t got the capability to conduct an independent study in the field, because the lack of personnel, equipments and facility. The astronomical department of our nation keeps up with the current discoveries because we work with other nations on astronomical researches and studies. In recent years, radioactivity receiver and short wave ionosphere monitor have been installed to study space weather. Space object and small planetary observational telescopes will be brought soon. This field is quite new and the tools it requires are new. We do everything we can to educate, establish foreign relation, participate in exchange programs and attend in international conferences. Of course we want to be up to date with the world.

-There is evidence that the first three astrological study centres were built by Mongols. It is even said that the numbers of planets in the solar system were determined by us. Is this widely talked about in astronomy today?

-Munkh khan established an astrology study centre in Maruga city of Iran, Khubilai khan established one in Beijing and Ulugbek, grandson of Tumur khan established the Samarkand’s astronomy centre. Ulugbek catalogued 1018 stars which was sophisticated for his time. These three astrology institutes were the products of Mongol khans and this is recorded in history. It is also important to note that astrologist and scholars from all over the world were invited to work at the centres. These centres are now historic monuments and museums.

-Do you have historic documents of astrological studies? Have you studied in that field?

-I don’t have any historical documents like this. There is a chart of planetary movements and their Mongolian names in the national library. They have said that it can be used for research if necessary.