Space Travel News  
Malaysian First Astronaut To Be Commissioned As Cosmonaut In Russia

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor And Faiz Khaleed. Photo courtesy AFP.
by Staff Writers
Kuala Lumpur (XNA) Oct 22, 2007
Malaysia's first astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, who is scheduled to return to earth on Sunday, will be commissioned as a cosmonaut along with another astronaut candidate Faiz Khaleed, Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Auk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis was quoted by local media as saying on Friday. The commissioning ceremony would take place in Russia two weeks after Sheikh Muszaphar's return as he has to be quarantined for one week after touchdown on Earth, said Jamaludin at an Aidilfitri open house hosted by him in Rompin, central state of Pahang, on Thursday night.

Jamaludin hoped that with the recognition Sheikh Muszaphar's credibility as an astronaut would no longer be questioned as certain quarters regarded him as merely a space flight tourist, Malaysian national news agency Bernama reported.

The ministry would also collaborate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States on astronaut and space science training to avoid such issues from arising (status of Malaysia going to space), he said.

Jamaludin said that he would be holding discussions with NASA next month for permission to have Faiz join the agency's training programs.

NASA, which also assisted in the training for Sheikh Muszaphar, is helping Malaysia obtain live television feeds of Sheikh Muszaphar at the International Space Station (ISS).

The national space program had made a major impact in Malaysia as it had generated a "space fever" among the people, especially the younger generation, Jamaludin said.

The program could set a paradigm shift among them to love mathematics and science and that the ministry hoped to get Cabinet approval to create a Space Division to develop more space programs for Malaysia, he said.

He said he had in mind that Sheikh Muszaphar, Faiz as well as National Space Program director Kol Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh could drive it.

"But we have to discuss with them and their employers first," he added.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

Related Links
Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


First Stop Moon. Next Stop, Mars
Vienna, Austria (SPX) Oct 19, 2007
The distant red planet Mars has captured the imagination of humankind for generations. It has inspired novelists to write stories about its exploration and motivated scientists to find ways to make space travel there a viable possibility. Now, for the first time in Europe, scholars such as historians, philosophers and sociologists are banding together with space scientists to share their thoughts and ideas on how humankind will be taking these first steps.







  • Jules Verne Dry Cargo Prepared In Turin
  • J-2X Powerpack Test Article Installed On Test Stand
  • Dawn Of A Long Voyage To The Beginning Of Sol And Beyond
  • Kennedy Prepares To Host Constellation Launch Vehicle

  • United Launch Alliance Managed Delta 2 Launches New GPS For US Air Force
  • ATK Propulsion And Composite Technologies Help Launch GPS Satellite
  • United Launch Alliance Atlas V Awarded Two NASA Missions
  • Russia Says Space Launch Vehicles Tests To Start On Schedule

  • Space Shuttle Crew Arrives Friday
  • Countdown Begins For STS-120 As Shuttle Crew Arrives In Florida
  • NASA gives go-ahead for Discovery launch Oct 23
  • Final Flight Readiness Review Today

  • Expedition 15 Set To Return Home
  • Soyuz Docks With ISS
  • SpaceX Completes NASA CDR For New Dragon
  • China Hopes To Join International Space Station Project

  • Chinese Taikonauts May Build Communist Party Branch In Space
  • Malaysian First Astronaut To Be Commissioned As Cosmonaut In Russia
  • Greeting A Living Legend: NASA's Cosentino Meets Childhood Hero Buzz Aldrin
  • Russia To Develop New Carrier Rocket For Kliper

  • China reveals space plans
  • China Plans Ambitious Space Program Over Decade Ahead
  • Nation Hopes To Cooperate In Space
  • China says still open to space cooperation with US

  • UCSD Researchers Give Computers Common Sense
  • Japan's robot industry forecasts strong growth
  • Robotic Rockhounds: Interview with David Wettergreen Part 2
  • Robots With Legs

  • Hawaii Reveals Steamy Martian Underground
  • Hummocky And Shallow Maunder Crater
  • NASA extends Mars probes' mission for 5th time
  • Opportunity Begins Sustained Exploration Inside Crater

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement