The Malaysian Angkasawan Programme Remembered

Abstract

Between August 2005 until October 2007, the Institute of Avi- ation Medicine (IAM), Royal Malaysian Airforce (RMAF) Kuala Lumpur acted as the medical adviser to Agensi Ang- kasa Negara (ANGKASA), the lead agency, for the Malaysian Angkasawan Programme. This space endeavour came as a result of an off-set package on the procurement of the Sukhoi SU-30 MKM by Malaysia from Russia in 2003. The medical selection process involved (1) online registration, (2) the Angkasawan Run, (3) the Basic Medical check-up, (4) the Aeromedical I,(5) the Aeromedical II check-ups, (6) Survival Test, (7) Final Medical Tests and (8) the Selection Panel Interview. A total of 11,275 Malaysian citizens from all walks of life registered online to be the Angkasawan Negara. The multi-phased selection process narrowed the candi- dates down to the final two. On 10 October 2007, Malaysians watched on life telecast as the Soyuz TMA-11 carrying Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor launched from Baikanur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan to the International Space Station. It was a historic achievement in the year Malaysia celebrated its 50 years of independence. This paper is a retrospective review of the Angkasawan Medical Selection Process.