How space centre can inspire young minds to look up more

Daily Express

a day ago

Published on: Sunday, July 27, 2025
Published on: Sun, Jul 27, 2025
By: Audrey J Ansibin Text Size: Plenty Out There members setting up a telescope for one of their stargazing activities. (Pic: Plenty Out There / FB) IN October 1957, a boy from small town US witnessed the launching of Sputnik into space, becoming the first satellite in earth's orbit. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the 1999 biographical drama film 'October Sky' tells the story of Homer 'Sonny' Hickam who, after witnessing the launch of the Soviet rocket, skyrocketed his passion in space travel and rocketry. That moment opened the eyes of Homer, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, that there's more to life than Coalwood, West Virginia. The Sputnik launch started the US-Russia space race. Because a year later in Jan 31, the US launched its own Explorer-I. This sparked something in young Homer to reach for the stars – quite literally. His passion would later enliven his sleepy coal-mining small town, Coalwood, into believing in the impossible. 'Persevere with a plan to reach your passion, and life will be good,' Homer says. If you've seen 'October Sky', which is an anagram for 'Rocket Boys', based on Homer's best-selling memoir (1998) about his rocket-building antics with his Big Creek High School peers, you'd laugh and cry with them, because it's a heartfelt movie not just about chasing an impossible dream but also about life in a small town with its ups and downs – some of which were centred around Homer's home life. Homer attributed his high school science teacher for helping him realise his dream in space travel. This brings us to the subject of astronomy in Malaysia. Why aren't our schools encouraging young minds to look up? The proposed space centre aka rocket launch site in Sabah has been brought up many times. Will it materialise this time around? In the first part of this series, Logesh Kumar Selvakumar, Space Education Manager of Malaysian Association of Rocketry and Space (MARS), likened Sabah to the world-renowned launch site Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. 'Sabah's near equatorial location is ideal for a space centre. It offers a geographic advantage similar to launch sites like Kourou in French Guiana which is located at 5.1694° N,' Logesh said in the earlier interview. 'Considering Sabah's latitude is 5.4204° N, its near-equator location offers some great benefits similar to Guiana Space Center.' As to why Malaysia hasn't seen a Malaysian sent to space since Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor's stint in October 2007, Logesh said 'it largely comes down to funding and national priorities'. 'Space programmes are costly and require long-term commitment, which hasn't been sustained since the Angkasawan Program.' Logesh later revealed some fascinating details about the prospects of having Malaysia's first female astronaut in the form of Vanmitha Athimoolam. He said the USM engineering rocketry team pinned its hopes on the former grad student at the varsity as the next contender to fly the Malaysian flag in space. He added that schools should encourage young people in space studies. 'I think it comes down to how the Stem teachers in school want to encourage students in astronomy.' In this second part of the series, we also talk with USM's second-year Computer Science student, Yvonne Low, as well as Sabah Chinese High School, Tawau's Plenty Out There Astronomy Club. Below is the interview: DE: Can you introduce yourself to the readers? Yvonne: I'm a second-year Computer Science student and currently serve as the President of the Astronomy Club. While I'm still fairly new to the field, my love for stargazing sparked a deeper interest in astronomy. I'm excited to take on this role and share that fascination with others, while also learning more along the way. Plenty Out There: I am from the Plenty Out There Astronomy Club, an extracurricular club under Sabah Chinese High School, Tawau. The club was founded in 2012 and over the past 13 years, we have focused a lot on astrophotography. Each year, we organize an astrophotography camp or workshop, usually held either in Tingkayu or Kundasang, where members and participants can experience capturing the beauty of the night sky. Besides that, our club is also actively involved in developing astrotourism and stargazing tourism in Tawau, a new form of tourism aimed at attracting more visitors to the area while promoting interest in astronomy. Our club's main objectives are to provide a platform for students to pursue their passion for astronomy and to bring people closer to the wonders of the universe through community sharing and outreach activities. DE: Recent news reports say the Sabah State government is studying the feasibility of having a space centre in the State. If everything goes well, it will put Sabah on the map as it will be the first such facility in Southeast Asia. Do you think Sabah is a strategic place for such a centre? Yvonne: In my opinion, Sabah is a very strategic location for a space centre. Its position near the equator makes it ideal for satellite launches, as less energy is needed to reach orbit. Sabah also has vast open areas with low light pollution and minimal air traffic, which are great conditions for both launches and space observation. With the feasibility study expected to be finalised by July, this project could be a game-changer. If it moves forward, it has the potential to put Malaysia on the map in the global space industry and open up new opportunities in science, technology, and education – especially for young people interested in astronomy like myself. Plenty Out There: That would definitely be a welcome boost for our country's aerospace industry. At the moment, the best potential location to build a launch pad is in Sabah, likely somewhere around Lahad Datu and Tawau. DE: It also means more job opportunities for Malaysians interested in astronomy, which means less brain drain. How competitive is this field job-wise? Yvonne: Astronomy is quite a competitive field, especially internationally, where the space industry is more developed. In Malaysia, the space sector is still growing and remains relatively small, so job openings are limited. That said, as new initiatives like the proposed space centre in Sabah take shape, we may see more opportunities open up in the future. Since the feasibility study announcement early this year on the proposed Sabah space centre, what do you think the parties involved are taking into consideration before giving the project the greenlight? In my view, they're likely evaluating the financial investment required, long-term sustainability, available infrastructure, and the potential for educational and research development. They would also need to consider public interest and how the centre can attract international partnerships to make it a success. Plenty Out There: We need experts from a variety of fields to help advance the level of astronomy and the space engineering in our country. Besides astrophysicists, we also require a lots of engineers, programmers, IT specialists and educators to work together in developing this field. DE: How does the study of astronomy impact the development of a country? Why isn't it a more popular subject in Malaysia, a fast-developing country in Southeast Asia? Yvonne: Astronomy promotes technological innovation, critical thinking, and scientific literacy. It contributes to advancements in navigation, communication, and aerospace technologies. In Malaysia, however, the subject is not widely pursued due to limited resources, a stronger focus on more immediate economic priorities, and a lack of awareness or infrastructure supporting astronomy education. Plenty Out There: Astronomy is the study of the world we live in. It seeks to understand how the universe was formed and how the things around us work. However, there's a common misconception that astronomy is purely a theoretical science with no practical/application value. In reality, the pursuit of deeper knowledge about space drives the development of new systems and techniques that are more sensitive, accurate, and advanced. These innovations often lead to practical applications and create new economic opportunities, contributing to industries beyond astronomy itself. DE: Why haven't we seen a second Malaysian astronaut sent to space since Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor's space stint on Oct 10, 2007? Yvonne: Sending an astronaut to space requires long-term planning, significant funding, and strong international collaboration. While Dr Sheikh Muszaphar's mission was a proud achievement for the country, Malaysia has yet to establish a sustained space program or allocate the necessary resources to support future missions. As a result, we haven't seen a follow-up mission since then. Plenty Out There: Malaysia needs to have a clear and focused objective if we are truly determined to advance our knowledge in astronomy. Unfortunately, we often lack a long-term and consistent plan to sustain the development of this field. DE: Do you think having a space observatory centre is crucial in sustaining interest in the subject? Why do some states in Malaysia not prioritise this facility as part of human capital development? Yvonne: Yes, observatories play a big role in keeping people engaged with astronomy. They offer hands-on experiences that you just can't get from textbooks. However, some states may not prioritise building them due to budget constraints or because they focus on industries with quicker economic returns. Still, investing in science facilities is important for long-term growth and inspiration. Plenty Out There: Yes, we do have a few observatories in Malaysia, including the national observatory in Langkawi. However, many of these observatories are either underutilized or primarily serve for religious purposes rather than being actively involved in scientific research. DE: Is the city skyline in Malaysia suitable for backyard stargazing? Where would you suggest amateur stargazers carry out their hobby if they're not in any astronomy groups? Yvonne: Most cities in Malaysia have too much light pollution for proper stargazing. For better views, I'd suggest going to rural areas, the highlands like Cameron Highlands or Kundasang, or joining events at public observatories. Even without being in a club, there are many quiet spots perfect for enjoying the night sky. Plenty Out There: Depending on where you live, light pollution remains a big concern for stargazing enthusiasts. However, I've seen some amateur astronomers successfully capture stunning deep space objects using suitable light pollution filters. For amateur stargazers, it's important to bring the right equipment, plan your observations in advance and when possible, seek darker skies to achieve the best results. However, I'm strongly encourage you to join an astronomy groups, either physically or virtually. Most of the members are very friendly and can greatly enhance your stargazing experience. DE: How often do schools carry out astronomy-related activities in Malaysia? Yvonne: Not very often, unfortunately. Some schools with active science clubs do hold stargazing nights or space-themed workshops, but these aren't widespread. I believe with more outreach and support, astronomy could become a more regular part of school activities and inspire more students. Plenty Out There: In general, not much. There are very few schools with astronomy club and most of them do not have telescope in their lab. DE: What astronomy-related movies would you suggest to the readers who may be interested in the subject? Yvonne: I'd suggest Interstellar. It's a great introduction to space science for the general audience—it blends real astrophysics with an emotional story about exploration, time, and survival. The film touches on concepts like black holes, time dilation, and space travel in a way that's both visually stunning and thought-provoking. Even if you're new to astronomy, it sparks curiosity about what lies beyond our planet. Plenty Out There: "Contact", "Armageddon" and "The Martian". But if you really like Einstein's relativity, "Interstellar" is the best.