Malaysia Can Become Global Player in Space-Based Technologies

Malaysia Can Become Global Player in Space-Based Technologies
(Bernama) February 2, 2010, By R.Ravichandran
Malaysia which is a small player in the space industry can become a global player in space-based technologies through innovation by setting up data processing centres, said Dr Harold J. Raveche, president of the privately-run United States-based Stevens Institute of Technology. He said this was possible by Malaysia venturing into making arrangements to buy data, information and images from space players having satellites like the United States, Russia, China, European Union countries and others and establish data processing centres in this country to process these materials which could then be sold to other countries. Dr Raveche said that despite satellites also being used for sensitive purposes such as for defence and security, there was also much non-sensitive data collected, which could be bought through proper arrangements and reprocessed using innovation for sale to other countries. "There is no need for Malaysia to spend huge sums of money for space technologies...through innovation, Malaysia can process and develop data for multiple uses namely humanitarian, civil and commercial applications," he told Bernama in an interview here today.