Malaysian National Space Agency

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Malaysian National Space Agency or in Malay, Agensi Angkasa Negara (ANGKASA) was established in 2002. It is responsible in providing leadership in space education and research as well as assisting the Malaysian government in formulating national policies on space. The first and current director general of the agency is Dr. Mazlan Othman.

As part of a transaction whereby the Malaysian government bought 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets, the Russian Federal Space Agency has agreed to take a Malaysian astronaut into space in 2007.

Angkasa has also announced plans to send astronauts to the Moon by 2020.[1]

In April of 2006, Angkasa sponsored a conference of scientists and religious authorities, addressing the issue of how the circumstances of space travel would affect the obligations faced by Muslim astronauts (for instance, how can one face the qibla while orbiting the Earth). The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim said that the Malaysian astronaut will spin a top, play with five stones, paint a 'batik' motif and make 'pulled' tea (commonly called 'teh tarik' in Malaysia). She further said that the outcome of the experiments would be studied on earth with the hope that it would unravel the mysteries in science, education and medicine (Bernama, 2006).