Angkasawan

Malaysian spaceflight program

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Last updated

July 19, 2026

Quick Summary

The Angkasawan program was Malaysia's initiative to send a Malaysian into space. This program was a result of a bilateral agreement between Malaysia and Russia. In exchange for Malaysia purchasing 18 Russian fighter jets, Russia agreed to train and fly a Malaysian cosmonaut to the International Space Station (ISS).1

In 2006, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, an orthopedic surgeon, was chosen from over 11,000 applicants to be part of the Angkasawan program. He successfully traveled to the ISS aboard the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft on October 10, 2007, and returned on October 21, 2007. During his 10-day mission, Sheikh Muszaphar conducted scientific experiments and became the first Muslim to observe Ramadan in space.1

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Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor
…enter the Malaysian spaceflight program, Angkasawan. Angkasawan was the product of a Malaysian-Russian agreement in which Malaysia purchased 18 Russian fighter jets and Russia arranged to train and fly a Malaysian cosmonaut on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Read More
…enter the Malaysian spaceflight program, Angkasawan. Angkasawan was the product of a Malaysian-Russian agreement in which Malaysia purchased 18 Russian fighter jets and Russia arranged to train and fly a Malaysian cosmonaut on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Read More