Malaysia is a hotbed for new satellite talent. Satellite operator Measat is a standard bearer for the industry in Malaysia. Shame’er Shah bin Kamal is a young engineer working for Measat. He received separate scholarships from the Malaysian Government and Petronas, Malaysia’s national oil company, after he had completed his O-Levels. He first studied petroleum engineering but realized that he was more interested in space.

He says the Millennial generation, as he calls it, has an optimistic view of the satellite and space industry. He cites highly visible pioneers, such as Elon Musk, who he says are redefining the satellite industry. He says the space industry continues to advance in exciting ways that resonate with his generation, and says space tourism, for example, is a tremendously exciting area. He says there is a great deal of excitement with young Malaysians still dreaming to be part of the industry. He says the Malaysian Angkasawan (Astronaut) program was a huge success that generated and fostered the younger generation’s interest in the industry.

“The younger generations are more connected than ever before. Due to this growth, the satellite industry’s influence will also grow. Recent developments such as Google planning to launch 180 satellites in order to provide worldwide Internet connection further shows that the industry can have greater influence toward the betterment of people’s lives across the globe,” he says. It will be up to the younger generation such as bin Kamal to drive this innovation forward.

In terms of how his generation sees things differently, he adds, “The space industry owes much to Generation X and the baby boomers, who have brought numerous technological advancements and evolution to the industry. My generation, the Millennial, will continue to bring more innovation. We are open to new ideas, flexible and able to adapt to meet the industry’s future demands.” VS