Malaysian Astronauts Head To NASA For Training

SPACE TRAVEL

The Malayasian Astronaut candidates - Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, 34, a doctor and part-time model, and Faiz Khaleed, 26, an army dentist. Photo courtesy AFP.

by Staff Writers
Kuala Lumpur (AFP) May 20, 2007
Malaysia's first space travellers will head to NASA in the United States next month for further training after their current stint in Russia ends, news reports said Sunday. Science Minister Jamaluddin Jarjis said the two candidates will be with NASA in Texas for up to three weeks, as part of the Malaysian Astronaut Programme, according to the Star daily.

"The International Space Station has two portions, the Russian and American, so they have to receive training from both sides," Jarjis was quoted as saying by the Star.

Malaysia's first astronaut and a back-up candidate, chosen from thousands of hopefuls in a nationwide contest, are currently undergoing training at Moscow's Star City before heading into space on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in October.

Jarjis said the government had yet to pick either Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, 34, a doctor and part-time model, and Faiz Khaleed, 26, an army dentist, as the final candidate to blast off into space.

They will head to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in June. The astronaut project was conceived in 2003 when Russia agreed to send a Malaysian to the space station as part of a billion-dollar purchase of 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets.

As part of their contract, neither Muzaphar and Faiz is allowed to marry until the mission concludes in 2008.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Email This Article

SPACE TRAVEL

Science Subcommittees Focus On Ensuring Health And Vitality Of NASA Workforce

Washington DC (SPX) May 21, 2007
The House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics today examined a range of National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) workforce issues identified by the recently released reports of two independent review panels. The Subcommittee's work is aimed at ensuring the health and vitality of the NASA workforce in the 21st century.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT It Takes People Power To Overcome Disasters International Cooperation Boosts EarthCARE GeoOptics Announces 100-Spacecraft Array to Deliver Critical Hurricane And Climate Data Japanese Scientists In Eye Of Storm ... With Goggles	CLIMATE SCIENCE DiCaprio Bites Back With Quip That He Caught A Train Across The Atalanic Climate Change, Energy Security Pose Risk To Mideast Stability US Trying To Weaken G8 Climate Change Communique PM Urges Australia To Pray For Rain
EARTH OBSERVATION MetOp-A Takes Up Service General Dynamics Awarded Contract For NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission Study ESA Presents The Sharpest Ever Satellite Map Of Earth Transcontinental Wildfire Emissions Monitored From Space	ENERGY TECH Live Earth's Hot Air, Burn Oil Instead Energy Efficient Desalination Takes A Step Forward Wave Power Tipped As Holy Grail For Australia Biorefineries To Transform Traditional Forestry Sector
EPIDEMICS West Nile Virus Devastates Many US Bird Species Spreading Viruses As We Breathe Advances In HIV And TB Vaccines Churning Sea Spurs Rethink Over Global-Warming Models	FLORA AND FAUNA Miracle Of Evolution Fights For Survival In Death Valley Scientists Seek Useful Traits In Wild Cottons Soaring Shark Fin Demand Driving Extinction Threat Female-Led Infanticide In Wild Chimpanzees
FROTH AND BUBBLE Chinese Climate Official Calls On Rich Nations To Share Technology New York Times To Defend Indonesian Mining Lawsuit Newmont Exec Sues New York Times Over Indonesia Stories Zambia Closes Chinese-Run Mine Over Air Pollution	ABOUT US Sweden Mulls Freeze-Drying As New Burial Method Brain Size And Gender Surprises In Latest Fossil Tying Humans Apes And Monkeys Beyond Paris Gene Mutation Linked To Cognition Is Found Only In Humans

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights 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 SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement