MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES PROGRAMME - - APRSAF

MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES 

PROGRAMME 

‐ 

COOPERATION BRINGS THE SUCCESS 

APRSAF ‐18 

Singapore 

By 

Mohd Helmy Hashim 

National Space Agency of Malaysia (ANGKASA)

MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES PROGRAMME 

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CONTENT 

1. INTRODUCTION 

2. OBJECTIVES OF MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES 

PROGRAMME 

3. MALAYSIA COOPERATION IN MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES 

PROGRAMME (2007‐2012) 

4. MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY PROGRAM 2011 – HIGHLIGHT 

5. CONCLUSION 

6. PROPOSE OF FUTURE PLANNING/STRATEGIES


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1.0 INTRODUCTION : 

THE MOTIVATION MALAYSIA TO INVOLVE IN MICROGRAVITY 

SCIENCES 

‐ BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITY 

[enables Malaysia to explore frontiers of education in science, technology and engineering, in 

ways never before envisaged by Malaysians. The Program involve scientists, educationists, 

general public and students (the next generation of explorers)] 

‐ BUILDING LOCAL CAPABILITIES 

[basic infrastructure/spacelab/equipment, research mechanism, identified national priority 

needs and development goals/outcome) as well as estimate the national readiness] 

Through 

INTERNATIONAL AND 

LOCAL 

COOPERATION!!


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2.0 OBJECTIVES OF MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY PROGRAMME 

To inspire the peoples to strive for excellence and a unity of 

purpose and all instill a sense of identity that will promote 

national resolve and enrich their lives; 

Gaining knowledge and experience from other countries and 

using this acquisition as a base to expertise in space science and 

Microgravity applications; 

To send experiments to the space that will benefit to science, 

technology and industry; 

To instill the interest of the young generation to explore new 

areas of science and technology which hare crucial to sustaining a 

long‐term national competitiveness in a global era.


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3.0 MALAYSIA COOPERATION IN MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES 

PROGRAMME (2007‐2012) 2012) 

Experience of Malaysia as non ISS Partner on Microgravity Sciences Programme 

Malaysia Agriculture Research and 

Development Institute (MARDI) 

Ministry of Higher Education 

(MOHE) 

Local Universities –UTM, UMT, 

UiTM, UMS, UKM, UniKL, MMU 

Local 

Ministry of Education (MOE) 

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka 

(Department of Linguistic) 

Asian Pacific Regional Space Agency 

Forum (APRSAF) 

United Nation Office for Outer Space 

Affairs (UNOOSA) 

Japan [trough Japan Aerospace 

Exploration Agency (JAXA) ] 

Russia trough Russian Federal Space 

Agency (ROSCOSMOS) and 

Institute of Biomedical Problem 

(IBMP) 

European Space Agency (ESA) 

National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA) 

International 

Malaysia 

Microgravity it 

Programme


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2012)


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1. International Cooperation 

Malaysia Astronaut 

New Program 

Partner 

Programme (2007) (Post Malaysia Astronaut Program 2008‐2012) 

1. Passive Dosimeter for Life 

Science Experiment in Space 

1. The Utilization of High Quality Protein Crystal Growth Experiment 

onboard ‘KIBO’ (2009‐2012) 

(PADLES) 2. Student’s Parabolic Flight Programme (2007) 

3. Education and Outreach (2011) 

JAXA 

(ISS Partner) 

1. Life Sciences Experiment in 1. Life Sciences Experiment in MARS500 Isolation Programme (2010‐2012) IBMP 

ISS 2. Microgravity Research Program on Biosatellite – BION (2012‐2014) 

2014) (non ISS 

Partner) 

1. Malaysian Astronaut Training 

and Launching 

ROSCOSMOS 

(ISS Partner) 

1. Life Sciences Experiment in 

ISS 

1. Scientific Partners ESA 

(ISS Partner) 

1. Instrument Fabrication and 

Experiment Apparatus 

2. Research and Educational 

programme on C‐elegans 

1. Scientific Partners NASA 

(ISS Partner)


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1. International Cooperation 

Malaysia Astronaut 

New Program 

Partner 

Programme (2007) (Post Malaysia Astronaut Program 2008‐2012) 

1. Actively participate 1. Research and Educational Programme in KIBO utilization 

2. Student’s Parabolic Flight Programme (2008 – 2011) 

3. Space Seeds For Asian Future (2010‐2012) 

4. Life communication with Japan Astronaut in ISS (2011) 

5. Try your zero‐G (Educational Demonstration Experiment in ISS) by 

Japanese Astronaut 

APRSAF 

1. United Nations Committee on 

the Peaceful Uses of Outer 

Space (UNCOPOUS) – 

Actively participate 

1. United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 

(UNCOPOUS) –Actively participate 

2. Human Space Technology Initiative (HSTI) –Expert Meeting (2011) 

3. Astronaut Public Forum (2011) 

UN


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2. Local Cooperation 

Malaysia Astronaut Programme 

New Program 

Partner 

(2007) 

(Post Malaysia Astronaut Program 2008‐2012) 

1. Life Video telecast from ISS with 

Malaysian Astronaut 

2. Life communication i with ih Astronaut 

in ISS 

3. Research and Educational program 

on C‐elegans 

1. Space Seeds for Asian Future (2010‐2012) 

2. Space Science Educational Module (Teachers Training 

Version) (2009) 

3. Life communication with Japan Astronaut in ISS (2011) 

4. Try your zero‐G (Educational Demonstration 

Experiment in ISS) by Japanese Astronaut 

MOE, MARDI, MOA , 

Radio and TV station, 

Mass media 

1. Life Sciences Experiment in ISS 

(Cells in Space, Microbes in Space, 

Protein in Space, Food In Space) 

‐ 1. Encyclopedia on Space Science (including microgravity) Dewan Bahasa dan 

Pustaka (Department of 

Linguistic) 

1. Life Sciences Experiment in MARS500 Isolation 

Programme (2010‐2012) 

2. The Utilization of High Quality Protein Crystal Growth 

Experiment onboard ‘KIBO’ 

(2009‐2012) 

3. Education and Outreach (2011) 

4. Human Space Technology Initiative (HSTI) –Expert 

Meeting (2011) 

5. Astronaut Public Forum (2011) 

6. Microgravity Research Program on Biosatellite –BION 

(2012‐2014) 

Local Universities, 

MARDI, Radio and TV 

station, Mass media


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2012) 

2. Local Cooperation 

Malaysia Astronaut Programme 

(2007) 

1. Malaysian Astronaut Training and 

Launching 

1. Life Sciences Experiment in ISS 

(Cells in Space, Microbes in Space, 

Protein in Space, Food In Space) 

New Program 

(Post Malaysia Astronaut Program 2008‐2012) 

1. Microgravity Workshop I (2008) 

2. Microgravity Workshop II (2009) 

3. Special Briefing to Parliamentary Members on Malaysia 

Astronaut Mission Microgravity Program 

Partner 

Local Universities, 

Astronautic Technology 

Sdn. Bhd (ATSB), 

MARDI, Radio and TV 

station, Mass media 

Local Universities, Mass 

Media, Radio and TV 

station

Malaysia Experience On Microgravity Sciences through non‐ 

ISS partner participation p of ISS members 

• 1 st National Angkasawan Programme (2007). 

PARTNER: ROSCOSMOS, ESA, JAXA, NASA 

During the stay onboard the ISS, Malaysian astronaut had implemented five experiments which are two 

experiments on “Cells in Space” , two experiments on “Microbes in Space” and one experiment on “Protein 

Crystallization Growth”. Besides those five experiments, Malaysian astronaut had also expedited “Food in 

Space” survey, “Space Medicine Experiments” and implemented “Education Modules in Space”. 

• The Utilization of High Quality Protein Crystal 

Growth Experiment Onboard the Japanese Experiment 

Module “Kibo”(6 flight from 2009 – 2012) –PARTNER: 

JAXA 

• Malaysia Space Seed Programme (2010 – 2012) (via 

APRSAF Regional Collaboration through JAXA) 

11

MALAYSIA EXPERIENCE ON MICROGRAVITY 

SCIENCES through non‐ISS platform 

• Parabolic Flight programme (2007‐2012) 

3 flight done(4 experiment) and one in 2012 (1 experiment) (via APRSAF Regional 

Collaboration through JAXA) 

• MARS500 programme(2009 ‐2012) on space medicine (2 

experiments) *working with IBMP (with is non ISS 

partner organization) 

Exp 1: Effects of isolated confined environment on brachial artery flow mediated dilation and 

brachial pressure index; and 

Exp 2: Effects of prolonged dliving in a confined isolation facility on inflammation, endothelial 

l 

function, oxidative stress and thrombogenesis. 

• Bio‐Satellite Programme (2013‐2015) 

This project has the objectives of investigating the effects of microgravity environments on 

“Bio‐Science Experiments”, “Medical Science Experiments” and “Scientific Agricultural 

Experiments” onboard a Russian satellite for the duration of three to six months in orbit. 

12


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4.0 MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY PROGRAM 2011 - HIGHLIGHT 

Malaysia on it’s planning to be more actively participate in microgravity 

programme. A long the year of 2011, Malaysia has been participated and 

implemented microgravity programmes as below: 

i. Parabolic Flight Program 2011 (PF2011) 

‐ Request for Proposal 2011 

‐ Outreach Program 2011 

‐ Parabolic Flight – Microgravity Awards to the University (for PF2011) 

ii. 

Education and Outreach 

‐ Public talk on Microgravity Sciences 

iii. Space seeds For Asian Future (2011) 

‐ Update: handing over seeds ceremony and activities 

iv. 

Protein Crystallization in Kibo 

v. Expert Meeting on Human Space Technology Initiative


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4.0 40MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY PROGRAM 2011 – HIGHLIGHT 

Parabolic Flight Program 2011 (PF2011) 

Progress: 

‐ Under Cooperation and platform of APRSAF 

‐ With local cooperation of MOHE 

‐ Under the title of award “University Microgravity Science 

Research Innovation Programs 2011” 

‐ Began on 7 th Feb. 2011 (call for proposal) 

‐ Open to all Sciences and Technical universities in Malaysia 

‐ Opportunities for undergraduate/postgraduate/ young 

researcher students 

‐ Open to Physics / Chemist/ Art/ Biologist/ Technical 

Engineering fields 

‐ Closed on 7 th July 2011


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4.0 40MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY PROGRAM 2011 – HIGHLIGHT 

Parabolic Flight Program 2011 (PF2011) (Cont’) 

Progress: 

‐ One proposal from Kuala Lumpur University 

(UniKL) was selected for the PF2011 (scheduled on 

Mac 2012 in Nagoya) with the title of research ‘Rate 

of Transfer of Moisture From Bath towel to Human 

Skin During 1G and Microgravity Conditions – 

Hygienic Purposes’ 

‐ Ceremony of award of “University Microgravity 

Science Research Innovation Programs 2011” was 

hld held on 15 th October 2011 – officiated by the Deputy 

Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. 

‐ The student team has been ready for the PF2011 

The student team has been ready for the PF2011 

mission next year.


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4.0 40MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY PROGRAM 2011 ‐ HIGHLIGHT 

Parabolic Flight Program 2011 (PF2011) (Cont’) 

Progress: 

‐ By this year, some innovation was 

implemented on the Parabolic 

Flight Program. 

‐ The students team were supplied 

with ihspecial ilcustom made flying sut. 

‐ To increase the other students 

interest to participate p in this 

program; 

‐ One of mechanism to promote the 

Parabolic Flight Programme.


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4.0 MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY PROGRAM 2011 ‐ HIGHLIGHT 

Education and Outreach 

‐ Public Talks series on microgravity was held on 10 th to 14 th October 2011 in conjunction of the 4 th 

Celebration of Angkasawan (Malaysian Astronaut) Launched to ISS; 

‐ Under the theme of “Bringing the Earth to Space” this activity was jointly organized under 

ANGKASA‐JAXA cooperation programme under the support of 4 local universities (UTM, UMS, 

UniKL and UMT) which covers entire 4 zones of Malaysia; 

Date University Location 

10 th October 2011 UniKL Central Zone of Peninsular 

Malaysia 

12 th October 2011 UMT Eastern Zone of Peninsular 

Malaysia 

13 th October 2011 UTM Southern Zone of Peninsular 

Malaysia aaysa 

14 th October 2011 UMS Malaysia East (Borneo)


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Education and Outreach (Cont’) 

- Three experts from JAXA were invited 

to deliver their talks on microgravity:- 

i. Mr. Shigeki Kamigaichi (KIBO 

update, Promotion and Research 

Opportunities); 

ii. Prof. Dr. Noriaki Ishioka (Research 

on Life Sciences under microgravity 

it 

environment); 

iii. Prof. Dr. Takehiko Ishikawa (Research 

on Physical Sciences under 

microgravity environment); 

- One person from ANGKASA was also 

involved to deliver his talk on 

Microgravity Experiment through 

Parabolic Flight Opportunity.


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Education and Outreach (Cont’) 

- The public talks activity was also got 

media coverage.


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Education and Outreach (Cont’)


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Update: Handing Over Seeds Ceremony And Activities 

ities 

Duration: 2010‐2012 

APRSAF ‐ ‘Space Seeds For Asian Future’ Cooperation program 

Combination of research & education programme 

OBJECTIVES 

a) To promote of microgravity science ‐ space awareness; 

b) To develop student interest and skill inscientifici ifi space experiments and research; 

c) To compare, analyze and do hypothesis about the growth of microgravity environment – exposed seed 

compared to earth – grown seed 

cili(Capsicum annuum 

(cv. MC11))


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Update: Handing Over Seeds Ceremony And dActivities 

iti 

(Cont’) 

ACTIVITIES: 

• For local implementation program, the seeds will be distributed to schools on the year 

2012. 

• The seeds was safely fl return on 1 th June 2011 by Endeavour Space Shuttle 

• Safely arrived in Malaysia on 15 th July 2011 

• 5 months duration period of exposure in KIBO 

• Has passed quarantine and screening process 

• 100 grams (50 grams space + 50 grams –ground) to be distributed to schools on 2012 

(after school holiday) 

• Several teacher workshops was held to develop educational module and activities 

before integrate to web site for the year 

• Web site for educational module and activities was fully established 

http://astronomi.angkasa.gov.my/spaceseeds 

p// g y/p


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COOPERATION BRINGS THE SUCCESS


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iti 

(Cont’)


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http://astronomi angkasa gov 

http://astronomi.angkasa.gov 

.my/spaceseeds


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iti 

(Cont’) 

HANDING OVER CEREMONY: 

• The Seeds Handing Over Ceremony was held in Putrajaya on 10 th October 2011 in conjunction of the 

4 th Anniversary of Malaysian Astronaut Launched to Space. 

• The seeds (mock up seeds) were hand over from Mr. Shigeki Kamigaichi, Director of Kibo Utilization 

Office for Asia, Japan Aerospace Exploration & Agency (JAXA) to Dr.Mustafa Din Subari , Director 

General of ANGKASA by the witness of the Minister i of MOSTI, the Honourable Deputy Minister i and 

the Secretary General of MOSTI as a symbolic of the cooperation on the space seeds program between 

Japan and Malaysia has just begun. 

• The seeds then was hand over to the Director General of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and 

Development Institute (MARDI) and Director of Co‐curriculum and the Arts, Ministry of Education 

Malaysia (MOE) for both the agency as a symbolic to receive a mandate to carry out the research and 

education activities.


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iti 

(Cont’)


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iti 

(Cont’)


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Meeting on Space Science Technology Initiative 

• The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) organized the first Expert Meeting on 

Human Space Technology (HSTEM), held in Putrajaya, jy, Malaysia, from 14 to 18 November 2011, under its 

newest Human Space Technology Initiative (HSTI) that was launched within UNOOSA Programme on 

Space Applications with the objective to promote international cooperation in human spaceflight and space 

exploration‐related activities. 

• The meeting, hosted by the Institute of Space Science, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, resulted in a general 

enthusiasm for establishing capacity building programmes and international collaboration on human 

space technology and developed a number of practical recommendations to be undertaken by HSTI, in 

cooperation with the developing countries, in particular those represented at the meeting. 

• The meeting was attended by 46 representatives from 23 countries (Azerbaijan, Canada, China, Congo, 

CzechRepublic,EquatorialGuinea,Germany,Ghana,India,Indonesia,Japan,Jordan,Kenya,Malaysia, 

Maldives,Nepal,Netherlands,Nigeria,Pakistan,RepublicofKorea,RussianFederation,Turkey,United 

States of America and Vietnam), including those representing the following space agencies: Canadian Space 

Agency (CSA), China Manned Space Engineering i Office (CMSEO), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 

(JAXA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Space Agency of Malaysia 

(ANGKASA), Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). 

• 80 scientists and engineers from local institutions such as ANGKASA, the Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd 

and Malaysia Metrology Department as well as several Malaysian universities attended the meeting.


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4.0 MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY PROGRAM 2011 – HIGHLIGHT 

Protein Crystal Growth in KIBO 

•JAXA PCG #4 Flight 

• Launching: 24 th June 2011 (Progress 39P) 

• Landing: 16 th September 2011 

• Protein: D311E lipase, S2S lipase, ARM lipase and Lip 42-1 lipase.


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4.0 MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY PROGRAM 2011 – HIGHLIGHT 

Protein Crystal Growth in KIBO (cont’) 

• On the sequence of the 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd flight, the 

project has given high significant impact: 

i. Human resource: 

6 PhD, 9 Msc Students and 2 trainees (Research 

Assistant) 

ii. Lab Facilities: 

Procurement of Oryx8 Crystallization i Robot, AKTA 

Explorer Purification System with Axichrome Column, 

Crystallization chambers (10 to 70ºC) and In‐house 

Bruker X8 PROTEUM Biological single crystal 

diffractometer system


5.0 CONSLUSSION 

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On the sequence of the 4 years of Malaysia involvement in 

Microgravity Programme, it can be concluded that the 

cooperation: 

• Promoting community well being 

Bringing together counterpart organizations, experts and interest 

groups in health and social welfare can lead to improvements in 

services and facilities. Sharing expertise and informative experience on 

programme and facilities for each country/ organization/ agency can 

bring about changes at a local level that can make a real difference to 

society well being. 

• Opportunities development 

International and local partnerships will allow the agencies/ country, 

to explore potential benefits programme of cooperation. 

• Further strengthen the relationship 

Appreciate the opportunities given and try to achieve with win‐win 

situation. Many international partnerships have come about as a 

impressive result of their local agencies twinning links, with companies 

finding it easier to deal with people they know and understand.


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5.0 Conclusion 

Malaysia is planning to deeply involve in microgravity programme 

through smart partnership with international partners especially on 

researchers and experts which h will possibly give commercial il and high 

h 

scientific return and continuing to develop interactive education 

program on microgravity 

“for knowledge generation, wealth creation and societal 

well‐being." 

bi


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6.0 Propose of Future Planning/Strategies (for 

consideration) 

• Regional space microgravity alliance research group (attached to Kibo program); 

• To widen the ground based microgravity experiment activity e.g Random Positioning 

Machine (RPM)/ Clinostat and drop tower; 

• Try to widen the possibility to use Kibo on the space environment research study instead 

of microgravity:‐ 

it 

Near Equatorial Orbit (NEqO) study on space weather

MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE PROGRAMME 

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THANK YOU

MALAYSIA MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES PROGRAMME - - APRSAF

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