re
Erm...Paskal I assume the article you were refering to is this.
MACRES Future
Dato Nic Nasruddin Mahmood, head of the Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing (MACRES), used October's MapAsia conference to outline his ambitious plans for MACRES. If Nasruddin's aims are achieved, MACRES will be a major player in remote sensing.
Malaysia has adopted a step-by-step approach to increasing the nation's spatial skills. The first step was to set up MACRES and then learn how to acquire, process and use data from space-based sensors. 'In order to use remote sensing data, you need to understand all aspects of the processing chain,' he said. Starting with a simple Landsat receiving station, MACRES now acquires data from a large number of satellites, include Ikonos-1 and Radarsat-1.
The second step is to contribute to the space industry. In 2000, the Malaysians launched TiungSat-1, their first satellite. They plan to build a constellation of Earth-observing satellites for launch after 2006. At the same time, the Malaysians are looking at deploying some airborne sensors, including a synthetic aperture radar and a hyperspectral imager. The National Remote Sensing committee, as part of the National Remote Sensing Program, is directing all these activities. MACRES provides a secretariat service for the committee.
Nasruddin told the conference that this effort is all part of moves to establish society in a more sophisticated fashion (what on earth does this mean?). It is certainly the case that developing the remote sensing industry is another step towards a knowledge economy. But more importantly, the use of remote sensing - in the management of natural resources and disasters, for instance - has the capacity to enrich society immensely.
* However from what i see, this doesn't show anything about it being a defense satellite. It's more of a satellite to for enviromental/climate studies unless you have something more to show me. I did however find an interesting aticle in today's the star newspaper about malaysia's satellite developments which i have included below.
Striking out in new frontiers
NOT all Malaysian satellites are imported from technologically sophisticated countries. For the last 10 years, a Malaysian company has been designing and manufacturing its own space craft.
They may be smaller than those designed by the advanced countries but Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd, a Government-owned entity, has the technology and expertise to develop its own satellites.
It has even gone into exporting satellites components to countries such as South Africa and Germany,x and has proposed to Egypt to launch a moon-sighting satellite
.
“We have been invited to submit a proposal on space satellite development for the overseas market. So we have the competency and are recognised as a country that develops space systems for export,” said ATSB managing director/chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Sabirin Arshad.
ATSB was established in 1997 to propel Malaysia into the group of nations with space satellite technologies. Among its achievements are the design, development, launch and operation of Malaysia’s first micro-satellite TiungSat-1, in collaboration with Britain’s Surrey Satellite Technology.
The 50kg satellite, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Khazakhstan in 2000, provides Malaysia information on earth resources, land use and environmental haze pollution, as well as weather patterns.
Its facility in Glenmarie, Shah Alam is where the RazakSat – Malaysia's second satellite for Earth observation – was built. The satellite is to be launched next year.
Small wonder: Ahmad Sabirin holding up the Pico satellite and electronic board fitted into the satellite, which is a set the company produces.
ATSB's other projects are tsunami early warning systems, robotic telescope, vigilant systems and dosimeter satellite (an in-house, small spacecraft programme for new engineers to learn about satellites).
Ahmad Sabirin said that years ago, many Malaysians did not know much about satellites.
“When they thought of satellites, they thought of the satellite dish or Measat. But while Measat is operating a satellite, we build them locally,” said Ahmad Sabirin, who was part of the first Measat engineering team.
Holding up a Pico satellite or cube set on his palm, Ahmad Sabirin showed how simple a satellite could be.
‘Malaysia Boleh’: A model of the RazakSat satellite manufactured by Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd. ATSB aims to be the Southeast Asian leader in small satellites.
The cube set, which is used for engineering technology demonstration and moon sighting, is being used by ATSB to show university students how to make their own satellites.
“We want them to get interested in space technology. The set can incorporate different electronic boards according to the purpose of the satellite,” he said.
ATSB has 60% of the technology know-how for space satellite manufacturing, including mechanical, electronics, electrical and control system development.
What it lacks are the star tracker (the star map which tells the exact position of the satellite in space) and propulsion system. These are controlled items by manufacturing countries such as the United States due to their dual applications of space and military technology.
“Our aim is to develop these capabilities ourselves as our own intellectual property. Then we will have a comprehensive capability to build our satellite systems,” he said.
For Ahmad Sabirin, it not an impossible aim.
He said Malaysia saved a lot of money building its own satellites.
“A satellite like the RazakSat costs us 10% of what our neighbouring country had to pay because while we build it ourselves. They buy them,” he said.
Since its inception in 1997, ATSB has invested RM200mil in research and development. It has managed to be self-sustaining, with positive cash flow, steady revenue flow and increased yearly profits, he said.
From a company that started off with a few staff members, it now has about 100.
With its experience in the TiungSat and RazakSat projects, it is fitting that ATSB has been appointed project manager for the Angkasawan programme, to handle all logistics activities, which is a crucial part of the project.
This includes logistics aspects in the two Malaysian astronauts' training in Nasa and the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City in Russia, the launching at Baikonur Cosmodrome on Oct 10, the Soyuz spacecraft's docking at the International Space Station (ISS) two days later and the landing.
ATSB's task also covers media coverage, the astronaut's communication with Earth, landing activities, the astronaut's inauguration afterwards and safe return of the astronaut and the Malaysian team's return to the country.
The Malaysian Angkasawan will land on Oct 21 and be transferred to Moscow after being quarantined for health checks.
“We provide engineering support for the scientific experiments the astronaut will conduct in space. We built the hardware to conform to ISS standards,” he said, adding that ATSB collaborated with other international space agencies including NASA, European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Ahmad Sabirin added that ATSB had to deal with the strict Russian Customs and had to pay for every service and tax.
Cosmonauts’ Alley tradition: Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, Malaysia’s soon-to-be astronaut, planting a sapling in Baikonur recently.
Another problem was the limited access to Baikonur Cosmodrome, a military area. “The number of people allowed entry to the area to watch the launch 'live' will be limited. However, it will be broadcast live for Malaysians to watch,” he said.
He said that although ATSB's focus was on satellite technology and not the entire spectrum of space activities, Malaysia had done well in space technology as a leading nation in Asia.
ATSB aims to be the South-East Asian leader in small satellites like the 180kg RazakSat. Satellites weighing less than 500kg are regarded as small.
But it is lonely up there.
Ahmad Sabirin said he hoped more Malaysian companies in space technology would be set up.
He said space technology application worldwide was only at 15% of the total market, and there was still 85% growth.
