Malaysia hopes to join Asia’s growing club of launch capable nations reported the New Straits Times Wednesday. According to the report Malaysia plans to develop and launch its own spacecraft via a National Space Agency that will be established with the of Japan.
Discussions between Malaysia’s Science, Technology and Environment Ministry and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) are taking place to reach a memorandum of understanding that will provide for co-operation in research, development and technology transfer.
A working paper on the proposed space agency will be handed to the Cabinet in about a month. According to the Straits Times, the Minister Datuk Law Hieng Ding said the Cabinet had decided to set up a space agency in March. Although currently referred to as the National Space Agency, the Cabinet is to select a new name for it.
NASDA representatives were in Kuala Lumper this week were they discussed co-operation on several issues such as satellite and rocket construction and launch centers.
According to the Straits Times report a site had been identified in East Malaysia as a possible space port but the location was not revealed by the Minister.
To date Malaysia has taken only a few tentative steps to establish a local space technology capability with most of the focus on remote observation satellites.
