The four, chosen from a field of nearly 900 candidates, were unveiled in a dramatic ceremony where organisers dimmed the lights as Defence Minister Najib Razak announced their names and hailed their efforts.

"May their dreams to become the country's first astronaut become reality and chart a new page in Malaysian history," said Najib, also deputy prime minister.

The four were Mohammed Faiz Kamaluddin, 34, a pilot with Malaysian Airlines; S Vanajah Siva Subramaniam, 35, a female senior quality engineer; Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, 34, a medical officer; and Faiz Khaleed, 26, a dental surgeon with Malaysia's armed forces.

All were dressed in bright blue overalls embossed with the Malaysian flag on their sleeves. They will leave for Russia at the end of the month or in early April.

There, they will spend two weeks undergoing medical tests and evaluations at a Moscow space centre, after which Russia will select one astronaut and one back-up candidate. The two chosen will spend 18 months training.

Russia plans to send Malaysia's first astronaut into space in October 2007 as part of a scientific mission aboard the International Space Station.

S Vanajah told reporters stress and mental tests, including a night walk in a swamp, were among the more difficult challenges.

"I kept telling myself, I do or I die," she said. "I told myself, I cannot stop."

She said she had no problem being the only woman chosen and was comfortable with the men.

Dental surgeon Faiz said he hoped his army background would give him an edge.

"I've been through a lot of military training, both physically and mentally, so I think that would be to my advantage," he told reporters.

The agreement to send the Malaysians aboard Russian spacecraft was part of a billion-dollar deal in which Russia will sell Malaysia 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets.

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