It’s quality not quantity, says Malaysian astronaut

KUALA LUMPUR: It is not the number of astronauts that a country sends to space that really counts but rather, it is the experiments conducted there that would significantly contribute to progress of mankind, said Malaysia's first astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha (pix).
He suggested that more emphasis be placed on research and development in space rather than focusing on how many astronauts to send there.
This is to help the country become a developed nation by 2020, he said.
"I think every university should place importance on research and development (especially) on aerospace,"he said.
Sheikh Muszaphar is the only Malaysian to have been sent to the International Space Station on Soyuz TMA-11 on Oct 10, 2007 in cooperation with Russia.
The orthopaedic surgeon carried out numerous experiments, including some on cancer cells and leukaemia on the space station.
Sending a man to space can inspire the younger generation to be interested in science, innovation, medical and technology, he told the "Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Space" programme held recently.
The event was also to mark the seventh anniversary of him becoming an astronaut.