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Malaysians to Vote on First Astronaut
wengkius writes "According to BBC, Malaysians will be voting for their candidate of choice in the nationwide search for an astronaut to be sent to the ISS on board the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Once its 11,000 would-be astronauts have been whittled down to a handful, their details and updates on their progress will be posted on the internet. If the contest proves popular and the government charges for the votes, it may even be able to cover the cost of its space program."
Malaysian Astronaut Idol
Ignorance is not a crime; neither should it be a way of life
Congress control $ = inmates run the asylum
Except you get voted off the planet instead of an island.
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
1) Buy a seat on Russian Spacecraft
2) Charge your citizens to vote on who gets to fly. Bonus points for call-in votes during a TV show: Cosmonaut Idol.
3) Profit!!!!
Charging for votes seems a bit odd to me; if you wanted to be in space you really could just buy your vote.
crazy dynamite monkey
It'll be fun, like being a cowboy!
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/ap_050829_mal aysia_moon.html NASA says they are going to reach the moon in about the same time the Malaysians say they want to go the moon. NASA believes this is possiblebecause of the fact that we have all this former technology to use (Space Shuttle and Apollo). Malaysia has none of that.
Ooo man the floppy drive is broken. No wait. The computer is just upside down.
If they really want to make their money back why not make it into a reality show?
They could call it, "Who Wants to Be Shot into space on Outdated Russian Gear millionare?"
Gives a whole new meaning to the catchphrase 'Your fired!'
Just as long as Simon Cowell doesn't make the judging panel (^^)
When the posters fear their moderators, there is tyranny; when the moderators fears the posters, there is liberty.
And some people complain that NASA's manned space program was a waste of money!
"So far, only 200 short listed candidates have managed to run 3.5km (2.2 miles) in under 20 minutes and pass a medical."
Any reasonably healthy person should be able to do that. I know I risk sounding very arrogant but don't send someone into space just for the sake of doing it. Pick someone with high qaulifications and do something useful. It's really a waste of money and an unnecessary risk otherwise.
EvilCON - Made Famous by
"If the contest proves popular and the government charges for the votes, it may even be able to cover the cost of its space programme." How do you fund your space program? Create a competition... its actually a fairly ingenious idea, minus the fact that its laughable of course...
This Island Earth?
I vote for their Prime Minister. But not his spacesuit.
--
make install -not war
I for one hope they pick qualified astronauts. Determining the effects of weightlessness in space on a gang of nubile babes is not the way to advance a bustling young space program.
Seriously WTF? Did I read it right that the Malaysian goverment is going to send someone to space just to have a bite of their favorite cuisines?
They should send up seven people but the re-entry capsule can only hold one.
Liberals call everyone Nazis yet they are the closest thing to it.
Actually... when the Mir Space Station was scheduled to go down the Survivor people tried to buy it from the Russian government...
surely sending any human into space is to some extent done for the sake of it at a level of unncessary expense and risk? Speaking of fitness, there is a side issue here, the Malaysian climate can be very oppressive; hot and very, very humid. It doesn't give any details, but if they picked the "wrong" day for this then that time would be more impressive than you think in view of the conditions.
Plays violent online games as: Nerfherder76
I would've thought a medical test and some other kind of intelligence test would be better than voting, would'nt it?
Can't read the article right now, but I am guessing the way they "charge" for the votes is to take a percentage of the SMS fees. So, for the voter, it just costs the same as sending a text message, and the government will have a deal with the local telecoms (if they aren't state owned already) to get a share of those fees.
A witty saying proves you are wittier than the next guy.
The Malaysia space agency.... http://www.baksa.gov.my/
Ooo man the floppy drive is broken. No wait. The computer is just upside down.
vote for our presidents
Ahhh pooo... Im sorry that I am dobule posting but I found the actual astronaut program website. http://www.angkasawan.gov.my/ Now here is a stupid question. Why doesn't slashdot post this in addition to a news report.
Ooo man the floppy drive is broken. No wait. The computer is just upside down.
But seriously, ... no, I have nothing serious.
Slash-for-Thought
The goatse man would be the next to be launched into space...
Monstar L
Ooo man the floppy drive is broken. No wait. The computer is just upside down.
Bill, your biggest problem is posting as AC all the time. You really should seek help!
I just hate people who indent posts for no reason.
If the Malaysian government is considering this, then Malaysians must have been expressing an interest in a space program for some time now. I can see what would happen if NASA did it - nothing because no one really cares. :-(
A: "Want to vote for the next cosmonaut?"
B: "No, Kanye is whining in the mic how the gubbemint hates black people..."
Weren't we supposed to be already colonizing Mars?
Look closer. Most posts are cracking jokes at the expense of reality shows.
I wonder if there will be a CowboyNeal option.
Hack your mind out of its sandbox.
Sheep reality show just ended here: http://www.stado.org/
Every sheep that was voted out was slaughtered.
I hope it tasted good.
Ok. I am now officially embressed to be a Malaysian. Seriously though, this isn't news at all. This is simply a ticket into space our goverment got from the Russians who offered it as a sweetener to close a deal on a fleet of MiG fighters.
I Seriously wish it was a one way ticket and they'd send our esteemed Defence Minister, who is also our useless ass of a Deputy Prime Minister.
PLEASE I BEG ALL OF YOU! MOVE ALONG! THERES NOTHING TO SEE HERE!!!!!
Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
How can you have voting if CowboyNeal is not on the list???
Sorry about the writing. Robot fingers, you know? Cliff Steele in DOOM PATROL #23
In malysia the people vote for who goes into space.
In the powerhouses of democracy such as the US, UK, etc. people are TOLD by a government agency who's going into space.
Funny when you think about it.
From this page:
...
...
Malaysia Could Be Hot Spot for Space Travel
Malaysia, according to a leading space authority, could be the next new focal point for space travel. Malaysia's central location makes it an attractive option for private commercial space travel companies and those interested in space exploration business, such as the Zero G Corporation and the Florida Space Authority. A 35-member Florida business delegation is scheduled to take a trip to Malaysia near the end of the month in order to look into investment and business possibilities.
Also, from an article titled Malaysia to launch five third-generation satellites:
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia said it would launch five third-generation satellites from a site in the United States as part of its ambitious plan to become a developed country in 2020 and to meet defence needs.
"We are moving to become an advanced economy and communications is important to meet our economic needs. Now we are relying on other people's satellites. For security needs for instance, can we completely rely on other people's satellites?"
The third-generation satellites offer higher-resolution images. They provide specific and timely data for mapping departments in agricultural countries and geographical information for companies located near the equatorial belt.
"This (the satellites) is for the strategic needs of the country. For our economic and defence needs of our country, we must have our own capacity in space," Jamaluddin added.
So, I guess even if Malaysia doesn't have any launchers themselves yet, they seem to have satellite construction down.
Insert "[1F13] Deep Space Homer" refrence... HERE!
Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
What is people's sick fascination with "the goatse man?" Why does he have to be referred to over and over again in every single discussion? Are you people really that much in love your twisted image that you have to mention it everywhere you go? I don't care about who does what in Soviet Russia, or what Roland Pixiedust or whatever his name is posts, first posts, or even the eternal classic "haha, their server got pwned," but for goodness sake, enough with the stupid goatse references!
Do your worst mods. I've got plenty of karma to burn and can easily gain anything back without so much as thinking goatse. It's a race to -1.
Because I can think of a lot of people I'd like to launch into space.
They will pick someone very likeable and intelligent, but then the person will be asked if they are Muslim or not (Malaysia is full of Muslims). The candidate will say it shouldn't matter. And her chances of going into space will be dashed to bits.
Someone please mod parent up!!
Inanimate Carbon Rod!!
AFundi Mawi!!
...
::shrug::
AFundi Mawi!!
AFundi Mawi!!
One way trip!!
If you're not in Malaysia, you don't get it
a Padawan is someone whose occupation is to play Pong?
This was never his idea. Before this whole thing started again I was informed that he threw the whole thing out because it was a drain on the budget. Apparently (and I would like corrections if I'm wrong) talks and the agreements were signed by the time he came to power, so whether he wanted to or not, we had to go through with the deal.
Someone should send the DPM instead.
1 + 1 = 3?
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS for certain hot topics in the US. imagine if it was set up like this, every year people vote freely online for which items should be put to public PAY elections. so lets say the top 52 items go to public online pay elections which occur weekly. for that topic of suggestion for new law, all of the info will be provided online with the best debaters on each side given 5 minutes to explain their case. the videos are free. as much information that is possible will be provided... this means ALL information. unfiltered. unchecked. the userbase will have a moderation and voting so the most legitimate details are ranked up so they will be seen. if you care about public voting, then spend 20 minutes a week, and make an informed opinion, but ONLY IF YOU CARE, because voting costs $1. $1, the fiat paper sensation sweeping the nation is the exact figure to charge when asking the question "is this worth ANYTHING to me"... if it is, then it should cost at least $1. that is what should define the value of a dollar. granted a gumball is essentially worthless, but change can still be provided and level of worthlessness is also variable from 0 to 100 cents. so, you charge a buck... make 52 INFORMED decisions about CREATING NEW LAWS at any level of government, or ELIMINATING COMPLETELY OLD LAWS. very important rule: CHANGING of laws is not allowed, and if a law is chosen to be eliminated a flag can be set if a new law which must go in effect before this law is officially eliminated... anyways, even if the laws didn't actually become law, but were green lighted to priority issues that must be simply voted to approve or deny, to pass, at least 61% must approve or deny. if that doesn't happen, then the issue will be revoted on every week until that does happen. if the public choses too they can run the same thing through again assuming it is the top 52 issues for the next year.
This is a ridiculous waste of public money to send what will effectively be a pretty boy into space on a tourist visa. In line with such great achievements as sending a Proton (our locally manufactured car) to the north pole, where rumor has it, it failed to start because um... it was plenty COLD.
Malaysia definitely needs to spend less on image and more on substance. I can't believe who'd think the population gets a kick out of seeing 'roti canai' (a local snack) floating in space and a bunch of 'hi moms' on the shuttle cam. This smacks of some business guy with a SMS voting engine looking to scam the population out of more cash.
What Malaysia should probably try to do is to make use of its relatively close proximity to the equator to become a launch hub.
I'm a Malaysian, although I haven't lived there for while.
A lot of what the Malaysian Government does, from my point of view, is to trying impress the rest of the world - the "little guy syndrome". The Twin Towers (tallest building in the world for a while), the tallest flag pole (?!), criticism of leaders of the Western World etc. They all just scream, "look at me!"
As it stands in Malaysia, there is already
Why add another?
Even if he does come back, few days of his absence on earth will give hope to a lot of Malaysians...
If you have to play and "American" Idol style game to become one.... why not call them idolnauts.
See the Pictures of the Flood of '08
Sounds like a Mayan ritual to pick the villager who 'gets' to be sacrificed. This could be a good socio-psycholgical study to see what went through the minds of those Mayan votees.
OJ
"Artificial Intelligence usually beats real stupidity."