News: An inspiration posted on May 10, 2002 MPs in the National Assembly warmly applauded the achievements of South Africa and Africa's first space traveller Mark Shuttleworth. In a notice of motion during their meeting on Tuesday 7 May, the chairman of committees Geoff Doidge (ANC) said Mark was an inspiration to all South Africans, and that the trip was an outstanding achievement and the culmination of a life-long dream. He commented that Mark's journey to the ISS would help inspire learners to higher performance in maths and science.