Prospector

Malaysia Joins Space Race

Destination moon by 2020

BY ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN

KUANTAN: Malaysia hopes to take the giant leap by sending its first man to the moon by 2020.

And Malaysians must not think of this as impossible, says Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis.

His ministry would forward this proposal to the Cabinet soon, he said, adding that he believed Malaysians wanted to see their countryman setting foot on the moon.

Malaysia’s First Astronaut Programme to the International Outer Space Station in 2007 would lay the foundation for the ambitious mission, he told reporters here yesterday.

Dr Jamaluddin said eight people would be short-listed for the final tests in Russia. One of the last two candidates will be the astronaut to go into space with the Russians.

Russia is helping Malaysia send its first astronaut to space as part of a deal following Malaysia’s purchase of 18 Sukhoi military jets.


Destination moon by 2020

posted by Prospector @ 8:06 AM