LOC12:21
09:21 GMT
KUALA LAMPUR, May 19 (KUNA) -- Malaysia is pondering purchase of the first
space craft from Russia, a government official said on Monday.
Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Fadelat Yousif stated
to the media here that the relevant local authorities were holding
negotiations with Russian Federal Space Agency (RSA) on sale of the vehicle
that the first Malaysian astronaut boarded to the International station last
year.
Yousif added that in case the Malaysian Government bought this spacecraft,
hopefully at a reasonable price, it would ask the RSA to transfer its
technologies.
Shaikh Muthaffar Shikoor Shaikh Mustafa, aged 35 years old, was the first
Malaysian astronaut. (end)
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KUNA 191221 May 08NNNN