Dr Faiz Still Hopeful To Go Into Space

KANGAR, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- Mejar Dr Faiz Khalid still has high hopes to be the country's second astronaut even as there are those who want the programme to be reviewed.

He said he was ready to go to the International Space Station (ISS) and has not stopped training in order to be ready for space.

"The programme should be continued to put Malaysia up there with other developed countries in space exploration," he told Bernama today.

Faiz was met here after attending the Science and Technology Week organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

"We have started this programme and if it is terminated it would be a loss," he said.

The country's first astronaut, Datuk Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, had said the programme need not be continued as it was costly while the ministry's deputy minister Fadhillah Yusof had said that the programme slated for 2011 or 2012 needed to be reviewed due to economic factors.

"Society understands and sees this from a different angle of the actual mission of the government to have the programme and not just to send someone to the ISS," said Faiz.

The national space programme began in 2003 when Russia agreed to send a Malaysian to the ISS as part of a deal for Malaysia to buy 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets worth RM3.42 bilion.

The country's first astronaut had spent 12 days on the ISS last October.

-- BERNAMA