Malaysia's Space Flight Participant

The Expedition 16 crew members pose for a portrait at the Johnson Space Center. From the left (front row) are Russia's Federal Space Agency cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, flight engineer and Soyuz commander; astronaut Peggy Whitson, commander; and Malaysian spaceflight participant Sheikh Muzhaphar Shukor. From the left (back row) are European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Léopold Eyharts, astronaut Garrett Reisman and astronaut Dan Tani, all flight engineers.

According to Wikipedia, with the rise of space tourism, NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency agreed to use the term "spaceflight participant" to distinguish those space travelers from astronauts on missions coordinated by those two agencies.

We, as Rakyat, paid million of Ringgit just to send Space Flight Participant to the space? My God. Some more, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis said if We, Rakyat of Malaysia, if willing to send snother "Space Flight Participant" to the space, he will seek approval from Cabinet - HOW MUCH?

US$30mil (RM102mil)

Quoted from The Star:

On Kapt Dr Faiz, the secondary candidate, the minister said it would be interesting to get feedback from the public, adding if their views were positive, it was possible that he too would get the opportunity to go to space in a future mission.

"If Malaysians want him to be sent to space too, I will raise the matter up with the Cabinet. He is after all, ready and able.

He added that the cost of sending the second Malaysian astronaut was estimated to be US$30mil (RM102mil).

Have you notice that other than Malaysian Dr Sheikh, the other Cosmonaut & Astronaut have their personal Biography. Really hope our Space Flight Participant really can carry out the planned Experiments on the space ......