Malaysia floats plans to set foot on the moon ...

[askold]

Cool - maybe that's what we need to invigorate public interest in the space program. Another moon race - with the Malaysians, this time!

 

[shuttle_rtf]

They're not exactly short on cash!!<br /><br />Got a link?

 

[askold]

I've seen the same short blurb at several sites - Yahoo is as good as any:<br /><br />http://uk.news.yahoo.com/27082005/323/malaysia-floats-plans-set-foot-moon.html<br />

 

[john_316]

I suppose they will have to goto a already space-faring nation or close to it in order to get there feet wet. Unless they want to take a page from the Chinese and do it themselves.<br /><br />I wish them luck on a long journey ahead of them...<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[elguapoguano]

The article basically said that Mayasia is going to purchase rides on Russian hardware. That is pretty far from sending a man into space with thier own knowledge and hardware.... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#ff0000"><u><em>Don't let your sig line incite a gay thread ;>)</em></u></font> </div>

 

[mikejz]

You gotta love the sales perks the Russians are offering, Buy 18 fighters and get a free ride to the ISS.<br /><br />

 

[Leovinus]

Malaysia is within 5 degrees of the equator. That should help if they launch from there. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[askold]

It's clear that the trip to the ISS will be with the Russians, but the short article does not make it clear whether the moon landing will be a Malaysian project or not. The way I read it, they're going to the moon themselves.

 

[Leovinus]

It's a new space race to see who will be first to be second. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Thanks...very interesting!

 

[SpaceKiwi]

There was a rather condescending piece about this on the RNZ news yesterday. Apparently, of the 35 Astronaut candidates Malaysia selected, only a dozen or so passed the fitness test. Somehow this was considered a 'failure' in the eyes of the correspondent.<br /><br />Well, if the Malaysian's have a 35-seat rocketship in mind, perhaps this could be true....... <img src="/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Sure is a strange country. Huge on betting. Wanted an F1 Grand Prix race, so spent a billion on a track. Claim to dislike the West, yet the highest rating TV program is English Premier League matches (Football/Soccer).<br /><br />Don't hold off the bets on a 35-seat ship <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[yevaud]

That is just so weird and so interesting. Good for them! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[askold]

What's not clear is why the Malaysians think they <b>need</b> to go to the moon.<br /><br />Maybe it's a status thing - like building a nuclear bomb or a real tall building. It says you've arrived.<br /><br />The article seems to imply that the Malaysians will feel better about themselves if one of their own steps on the moon. I'd be more impressed if one of them found a cure for cancer ....<br />

 

[mrmorris]

So... will all of the parts on their lunar spacecraft have a little taggie that reads: 'Assembled in Malaysia'? <br />Or will they be assembled in the Phillipines? Things that make you go 'Hmmmm'. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[lampblack]

hmmm... they're sitting near the equator -- in the beautiful Pacific Ocean -- in arguably one of the most agreeable climates in the world. They want to leave all of that -- and go to the MOON?<br /><br />Ah, human folly... *grin*<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[askold]

That's the way I feel about the whole manned space program! Why would anybody want to float in a tin can for 6 months, then walk around in a spacesuit in a place that looks like the Utah desert on a bad day, then float around in the tin can for 6 more months to get back to Earth?<br /><br />I'd rather sit on a Mexican beach drinking Coronas.<br /><br />Oh well, to each his own ....

 

[spacefire]

yeah but there's no Mexicans on Mars <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[kdavis007]

The more competition the better...