The first Malaysian space traveller Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor returned to Earth just three weeks ago, but already the country is planning to send another astronaut to the International Space Station on board a Russian spacecraft.

On October 21, the Russian Soyuz TMA-11 spaceship landed in Kazakhstan.

It brought back to Earth the two members of the 15th expedition to the ISS, Oleg Kotov and Fyodor Yurchikhin, who'd spent more than six months in space. But there was also a third man on board on the craft – Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, the first-ever Malaysian in space, whose time at the ISS was brief but still significant.

“I feel really great. I feel excited to be the first Malaysian in space. Malaysia will have its own space rocket,” he exclaimed.

Russian space officials confirmed that talks are underway with Malaysia over co-operation on future projects.

Anatoly Perminov, the Head of Russian Space Agency commented, “We spoke on a number of issues with Malaysian authorities, including our future co-operation and about their next astronaut to go into space in around 2010.”

“We are also discussing selling them the spaceship which the Malaysian astronaut was on,” he added.

The first Malaysian astronaut spent 11 days in space – and a whole year of training in Russia. This, he says, was the key.

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor says he fell in love with the country, and most of all with its people, and that it was the best time of his life.