 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Malaysia Unveils Candidates For Astronaut Race
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (SPX) Feb 14, 2006 Malaysia unveiled last week eight candidates for the country's first astronaut program. Malaysian Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Jamaludin Jarjis announced the names of the eight candidates here, including a 35-year-old woman engineer. All the candidates were chosen based on their physical and mental health as well as their personality, and according to the criteria stipulated by the Russian and the United States Space Agencies, he said. Local media reported that, of the eight candidates, only four would be selected to undergo medical tests in Russia, as required by Russia. After further screening, two of the four would take up training at the Star City in Moscow. Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected to announce the names of the two finalists after mid-March, one of whom would follow the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS) scheduled for October next year. The eight were chosen from 11,000 applicants since the Malaysian National Space Agency started the screening campaign for the country's first astronaut in 2003. The eight were selected by an eight-member technical committee comprising health experts, aeromedical experts and clinical psychology consultants. Malaysia's astronaut program came after it purchased 10 Sukhoi Su-30 MKN jet fighters from Russia. The Russian government, in return, offered one seat for a Malaysian astronaut to join their astronauts in an expedition to the ISS. Jamaludin said that besides raising Malaysia's world image in the field of science, the country's involvement in sending its astronaut would also benefit its space science research. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links the missing link Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
Griffin Remarks To The National Space Club
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 12, 2006Three years ago, members of the National Space Club were dealing with some of the darkest days ever known to our space program, the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. In the days and months following the loss of Columbia, there was an extensive discourse concerning our nation's lack of clear, coherent, and compelling goals for the nation's human spaceflight program. |
|
|
| 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 |
