The mission of The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft, taking off in the fall of 2007 had a goal of delivering and returning the 16th long-duration crew to the International Space Station. The launch was scheduled for October 10, 2007, at 17:22:33 Moscow Summer Time.
A formal contract for the mission of a Malasiyan cosmonaut onboard the Russian spacecraft was signed on September 29, 2006. At the time, training of Malaysian candidates was expected to start within days. According to the Russian press, the Russian government offered to fly a Malaysian citizen into space to "sweeten a deal," calling for the purchase of Russian fighter jets by the Malaysian Air Force. | Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor | Spaceflight participant | Malaysia | Launches with Expedition 16 and lands with Expedition 15. |
| Faiz Ben Khalid | Spaceflight participant | Malaysia | - |
The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft during pre-launch processing in Baikonur at the beginning of October 2007.
Credit: Roskosmos Soyuz TMA-11 hidden under a payload fairing of the launch vehicle during the installation on the launch pad. Credit: Roskosmos Crew of Soyuz TMA-11 during a ride to orbit on Oct. 10, 2007. Credit: NASA TV
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