SPACE may be the final frontier and it is one that Malaysia (or at least one Malaysian) has boldly gone before.
So is it true that the country has its own dedicated space agency?
Verdict:
TRUE
It may come as a surprise to many but Malaysia has been involved or at least dedicated resources to the development of space sciences for almost three decades.
The first iteration of a Malaysian space agency, or at least a division dedicated to the study of space, goes as far back as 1993, in the form of the Space Science Studies Division (Baksa).
Then, in 2002, the National Space Agency (Angkasa) was established and eventually took over all of Baksa's functions in science education and the National Planetarium's operations in 2003.
It was during Angkasa's existence that Angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor became the first Malaysian in space when he was part of the crew on the Soyuz TMA-11 rocket that blasted off on Oct 10, 2007 and docked with the International Space Station two days later.
In 2019, Angkasa was merged with the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency (MRSA), and this new body became the Malaysian Space Agency (Mysa).
However, a new body was announced on Monday – the National Space Board – that will be formed to enforce the recently-gazetted Space Board Act (Act 834).
According to Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, this new organisation will be tasked with creating and enacting rules and regulations related to space exploration in accordance with international treaties.
"An interim Space Board has been (temporarily) formed and will come into full force early next year, when the regulations are finalised," said the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister.
The board will be chaired by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry secretary-general, the deputy chairman will be the ministry deputy secretary-general and would comprise six committee members.
"The committee members will come from the important (relevant) ministries including the Transport Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry and the National Security Council," he added.
The new organisation will have jurisdiction in air space above 100km from sea level.
Not only that, Adham said that the country may be getting its own space launch site as Malaysia lies very close to the equator, making trips to space shorter and cheaper.
"This will be healthy progress for our nation’s space industry," he said, adding that Malaysia already has in place the Space Policy 2030.
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