KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13: Malaysia, whose first astronaut is at the International Space Station, will send a second citizen into space in the next two years.

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, a 35-year-old doctor and part-time model, blasted off on Wednesday aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft with cosmonaut Yury Malenchenko and Nasa’s Peggy Whitson.

Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Jamaluddin Jarjis said from Moscow that Muszaphar’s back-up candidate, Faiz Khaleed, would become Malaysia’s next astronaut.

“Capt Dr Faiz Khaleed will be the primary ‘angkasawan’ and the next mission, probably in 2008 or 2009, should have him doing more challenging tasks,” the minister said according to the New Straits Times.

“This could involve him doing a space walk or conducting repairs to the spacecraft,” he said.

“I hope to submit a proposal to Nasa (the US space administration) this year that in addition to his training with the Russian Space Agency, Dr Faiz will also be able to undergo training with them,” he said.

The project to have a home-grown ‘angkasawan’ was part of a billion-dollar purchase of 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets from Russia. Muszaphar was chosen from thousands of hopefuls in a nationwide competition.—APP