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Saturday, September 22, 2007

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar is our astronaut


MYT 7:31:19 PM

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's astronaut candidates Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and Kapt Dr Faiz Khaleed have passed their training programme successfully and have qualified to become astronauts.

Both the medical officer and army dental surgeon are equally eligible to be sent to space on Oct 10, but if all goes according to plan, it will be Dr Sheikh Muszaphar making history as the first Malaysian in space.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announces the country's first astronaut at his office in Putrajaya, Monday. - AP
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, 35, has been named as part of the three-member first crew for the Soyuz 15-S mission alongside Yuri Malechencko from Russia and American Peggy Whitson, while Kapt Dr Faiz, 27, is a member of the second crew with Michael Fincke from the United States and Russian Sharizan Sharipov.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in announcing this said the Government was proud that both Angkasawan candidates had passed with flying colours and were equally eligible to represent the country in its first outer space mission.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, Whitson and Malenchenko will board the Russian Soyuz TMA-11, which will blast off from Baikanur in Kazakhstan on Oct 10.

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