Dear Mark,

The MRC congratulates you on your remarkable endeavour to be the first African and South African to travel into space. The experiments that will be undertaken in the space station are also a first for South African Science. This provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing research programmes and to the advancement of South African scientific research. The scientists leading the three research programmes have national and international standing in the their research fields. Tow of the project leaders are MRC-funded researchers. Prof. Tim Noakes is the Director of the MRC Exercise Science and Sport Medicine Research Unit and Dr. Vaughan Oosthuizen's project also receives MRC support.

In order to instil a national culture and a system of innovation in South Africa, we need to substantially increase the number of highly trainied scientists, engineers and technologists in our country. As a renowned entrepeneur yourself, your mission will generate interest and curiosity, highlighting for the youth in South Africa the limitless opportunities that Science, Engineering and Technology have to offer.

This mission into space is yet another signal that South Africa is truly becoming part of the global village. We wish you and your team every success and eagerly await the outcome of your space experiments.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Malegapuru Makgoba

President, the Medical Research Council