27 Left In Malaysia's Race To Space

ASIA NEWS

A woman walks by batik cloth sold on the streets in Kuala Lumpur, 08 March 2005. By 2007, Malaysia aims to send not only its first astronaut to space but also a piece of local culture and delicacy. The National Space Agency plans to send a chef and a fashion designer to the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration to research on how to prepare the "roti canai," a flat Indian bread, to consume in space and making spacesuits from traditional batik. AFP photo by Jimin Lai.

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia (SPX) Jan 12, 2006
The race to become the first Malaysian astronaut is picking up, with only 27 candidates left fighting to be sent to space, reports The Star Online.

From the initial 894 hopefuls last year, only 25 male and two female candidates will move on to the next round of the selection process.

Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis said it would begin on Jan 16 and end on Jan 26.

"It will be divided into three phases. The first phase will involve further medical evaluation, which consists of a stress test, ultrasound of the abdomen, and lung function test," he said.

The candidate will also undergo aero-physiological tests, which will include exposure to high altitudes in an altitude chamber, and gravity tolerance training in the newly-commissioned Human Centrifuge.

Dr Jamaludin said the evaluations would be conducted at Specialist Clinic 95 of the Armed Forces Hospital in Jalan Padang Tembak, Kuala Lumpur, as well as the Institute of Aviation Medicine.

"The candidates will then proceed to the naval base in Lumut for exposure to land- and sea-survival conditions as well as assessment of their mental and physical endurance.

"Various training units in the navy will conduct this phase of the selection process," he said.

Candidates who pass will proceed to the third phase to undergo a final medical examination, which will include a CT scan and endoscopic procedures.

The candidates will also be assessed on psycho-social factors.

SPACE TOURISM

Malaysians To Help Select First Astronaut

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (UPI) Sep 15, 2005
Malaysian citizens will reportedly be able to help choose their nation's first astronaut. Malaysia Science Minister Jamaluddin Jarjis said citizens will be able to choose from among a short list of candidates and then vote by text message, the BBC reported Wednesday.