First Malaysian in Space

Last night I watch life on Astro channel 588, our very handsome doctor, Sheikh Muszaphar lift off into space on board the Russian Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft at 9:21pm (Malaysian time). Rephrasing Neil Armstrong’s legendary words, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said, “It’s a small step for me, but a great leap for the Malaysian people.” Hospital UKM’s Dr Sheikh Muszaphar will make history being the first Malaysian in space.

The TMA-11 aircraft carrying the 35-year-old doctor and his flight mates - Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and American Peggy Whitson - is scheduled to dock at ISS (International Space Station) at 10:51pm (local time) on Friday. Soyuz TMA-11 will take 2 days to reach the ISS - 360km above the Earth.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar is to study the effects of microgravity and space radiation on cells and microbes, as well as experiment with proteins for a potential HIV vaccine. Malaysia is paying for the voyage as part of a billion-dollar purchase of Russian fighter jets. The rocket - adorn with a Malaysian flag and coat of arms and carrying the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft - was moved on Monday to the launch pad from its assembly site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which Russia rents from Kazakhstan. Dr Sheikh is to return to Earth on Oct 21 with two Russian members of the current space station crew.

Another first for the Malaysian ‘angkasawan’ (astronaut), is that he will be hosting a Hari Raya party on board the space station on the first day of Syawal. He has taken satay and some ‘kuih’ Raya to treat the others on board. This is all so exciting. I bet Dr Sheikh will get his Datukship when he returns to Malaysia - our very handsome orthopaedic surgeon who’s also a model.