Yesterday, Russia’s weapon export agency Rosoboronexport signed a contract with the Malaysian Ministry of Defense to send a Malaysian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) in the fall of 2007.
The statement from Rosoboronexport emphasized: “According to the agreement, the Malaysian astronaut will visit the ISS not only as a space tourist but also to participate directly in a research program currently being conducted by both parties.”
The first Malaysian astronaut will travel to the ISS aboard a Soyuz spacecraft during the 16th rocket launch to this international space station in September 2007. Yuri Nosenko, the Deputy Director of the Russian space agency, confirmed this information.
Four Malaysian pilots were selected, but no decision has been made regarding which individual will become the astronaut undertaking this historic journey. In the near future, only two of them will be sent for training at Russia’s Star City space center, one as the official astronaut and the other as a backup.
Since Russia agreed to send a Malaysian astronaut to the ISS, Kuala Lumpur has signed a contract to purchase several Sukhoi SU-30-MKM fighter jets from Russia, valued at nearly one billion USD.
Dinh Chinh
