The First Malaysian Astronaut, First Angkasawan Options

[starstyle]

thats real cool

[dragonaga]

gila semangat, tapi bagi aku, dia tak layan jadi angkasawan pakar kanak2 buat ape jadi angkasawan lagi pun ape faedah dia pergi, bukan dia reti buat ape2pun sekadar penumpang spaceship. patut bagi la kapten tu pergi, dier askar lagi tough dari mamat tu, then dier doktor betul kalau ade injury kat sana boleh la tolong dari doktor kanak2 nih, nak rawat anak jin ke atas sana. bukan nak salahkan dr sheikh, siapa taknak jadi angkasawan semua nak kan? so aku tak salahkan dia, aku salahkan gov pilih dia.

peh byk betul fakta yg salah kau dapat.....nampak sangat tak mengikuti perkembangan semasa.......

Dia pakar bedah orthopedic lah bukannya dr. kanak2...... lg satu bukannya kerajaan Malaysia yg buat keputusan utk pilih dia sbg first choice tapi agensi angkasa Rusia iaitu Roscosmos ....... Mana lah kerajaan ada qualification utk pilih astronout ......

before this aku pun tak pernah sokong program2 kerajaan yg mengakibatkan pembaziran duit rakyat utk cipta rekod atau sekadar utk dibangga2kan tapi aku rasa program angkasawan ni aku setuju sangat dilaksanakan.....yes, it's a small step but it's a giant leap for our nation to be into space technology ....... dan aku harap Kerajaan Malaysia tak kira parti mana yg akan perintah tak kira BN atau PAS atau mana2 parti (tapi aku sokong PAS,sempat lg tu promote...hehehe) akan teruskan program pembangunan teknologi angkasalepas Malaysia ........ dan lg satu pandai2lah buat belanjawan tu supaya tiada rakyat Malaysia yg akan tertindas...... kalau semua perbelanjaan balance dari setiap aspek dan takde rasuah lagi, maka takdelah lagi suara2 rakyat Malaysia yg tak puas hati atau yg kan komplen mengenai pembaziran duit negara......

dan lagi satu jgn fikir doktor kanak2 atau apa2 pekerjaan sekalipun tak layak jd angkasawan......kau perlu ingat salah satu kriteria utk terpilih jd calon angkasawan Malaysia perlu ada sekurang2nya first degree tak kira dlm apa bidang sekalipun......kalau kau nak tahu Peggy Whitson iaitu komander wanita pertama dari US dan salah seorg krew bersama Sheikh Muszaphar telah graduated in biochemical.......dia before jd astronout adalah seorg doktor......takde kena mengena pun dgn aerospace tapi lihatlah dia sekrg dah jd komander.....perempuan lak tu....... so fikir2kanlah......

This post has been edited by dragonaga: Oct 12 2007, 10:36 PM

[HangPC2]

PM: Kerajaan akan wujudkan pelan pembangunan angkasa

Oleh ZABRY MOHAMAD dan NIZAM YATIM






Lintas langsung komunikasi antara Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi di stesen televisyen Astro, Kuala Lumpur dengan Angkasawan Negara, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha di Stesen Angkasa Antarabangsa (ISS), semalam.


KUALA LUMPUR 16 Okt. – Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, kerajaan akan mewujudkan pelan tindakan pembangunan angkasa negara sebagai susulan kepada penghantaran angkasawan pertama Malaysia ke Stesen Angkasa Antarabangsa (ISS).

Perdana Menteri berkata, langkah itu dirancang bagi memastikan perbelanjaan besar yang bakal dilaburkan benar-benar menguntungkan dan dapat menjadikan Malaysia sebuah negara maju.

‘‘Apabila Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor pulang ke Bumi, kita bukan sekadar akan membawanya untuk memberi ceramah di kampung dan bandar tentang pengalaman di angkasa.

‘‘Sebaliknya kita akan turut menggunakan pengalaman daripada program penghantarannya untuk mewujudkan pelan lengkap yang benar-benar bermanfaat kepada negara sesuai dengan wang yang banyak dikeluarkan,’’ katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditemu ramah secara langsung dalam program televisyen Angkasa 1 Astro (saluran 588) di Pusat Penyiaran Asia, Bukit Jalil di sini malam ini. Dalam program itu beliau mengadakan telepersidangan dengan Sheikh Muszaphar.

Menurut Abdullah, program angkasawan yang membawa Sheikh Muszaphar ke angkasa secara tidak langsung telah membuktikan kepada dunia bahawa bidang komunikasi negara sudah setanding dengan negara maju lain yang membolehkan beliau berpeluang berbual secara terus dengan angkasawan itu.

Sheikh Muszaphar kini berada di ISS yang terletak kira-kira 350 kilometer dari muka Bumi iaitu tempat penyelidikan dan pemantauan angkasa lepas yang dikendalikan secara bersama oleh pelbagai negara di dunia.

Stesen itu berputar mengelilingi Bumi setiap 90 minit dengan kelajuan tujuh kilometer sesaat.

Perdana Menteri berkata: ‘‘Saya tidak mahu kita berpuas hati setakat ini sahaja sebaliknya kemudahan komunikasi di negara ini perlu ditingkatkan lagi pada tahun-tahun akan datang.’’

Ketika sesi telepersidangan selama 15 minit dengan Sheikh Muszaphar malam ini, Abdullah dan isteri, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah mengambil kesempatan mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri kepada angkasawan itu setelah tidak dapat berbuat demikian ketika cubaan telepersidangan pertama pada Ahad lalu.

Dalam perbualan itu, Abdullah banyak bertanya tentang perkembangan kajian saintifik yang dijalankan oleh angkasawan negara itu yang disifatkannya sangat penting kerana ia dapat digunakan untuk memajukan Malaysia pada masa depan.

Sebelum kembali ke Bumi pada Ahad ini, Sheikh Muszaphar akan menjalankan kajian saintifik berhubung kesan mikrograviti dan radiasi terhadap sel barah dan bakteria serta uji kaji pengkristalan protein bagi mencari penawar HIV/Aids.

‘‘Saya juga gembira kerana Sheikh telah membawa bendera untuk mengingatkan diri kepada Malaysia.

‘‘Makanan tradisi yang dibawa membolehkan kita tahu sama ada ia sesuai dimakan di angkasa atau tidak,” ujarnya.

Abdullah turut meminta Sheikh Muszaphar mencatatkan segala aktiviti di angkasa dalam buku notanya supaya ia kemudian dapat dibukukan untuk tatapan rakyat Malaysia.

Sheikh Muszaphar yang gembira dapat berbual dengan Perdana Menteri berkata, beliau telah mencatatkan pengalamannya sejak memulakan latihan sebagai angkasawan menggunakan komputer riba yang sentiasa dibawanya.

Beliau berharap catatan pengalamannya akan dapat memberi inspirasi kepada rakyat Malaysia untuk berkecimpung lebih agresif dalam bidang angkasa lepas termasuk mencipta roket dan meneroka bulan serta planet Marikh.

Angkasawan berusia 35 tahun itu memberitahu, meneroka angkasa bukan halangan kepada orang Islam beribadat.

‘‘Islam adalah satu cara hidup dan Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) telah menyediakan garis panduan... tiada masalah untuk bersolat dan berpuasa,’’ katanya.

Menurutnya, beliau telah merakamkan ibadat yang dilakukan untuk dilihat sendiri oleh umat Islam.

Dalam perbualan dengan Abdullah, Sheikh Muszaphar juga sempat membaca Rukun Negara kepada Perdana Menteri sebagai tanda beliau berbangga menjadi anak Malaysia.

Jeanne yang turut berkesempatan berbual dengan angkasawan negara berkata, beliau yang boleh disifatkan sebagai seorang ibu berharap Sheikh Muszaphar sihat dan dapat kembali ke Bumi dengan selamat.

‘‘Bagaimana keadaan anda, adakah makanan yang disediakan sesuai dan adakah rakan-rakan lain menyukai makanan Malaysia?’’ tanya Jeanne.

- Utusan Malaysia -

This post has been edited by HangPC2: Oct 17 2007, 09:33 AM

[HangPC2]

PM harap misi Muszaphar rintis kejayaan

Oleh Saufi Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia akan menjadikan pengalaman dan kejayaan hasil kajian angkasawan pertama negara sebagai antara asas merumuskan strategi meneroka sektor angkasa lepas serta keperluan terbabit dalam misi seterusnya pada masa depan, kata Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Perdana Menteri berkata, pengalaman dan hasil kejayaan program angkasawan sulung itu penting bagi memastikan negara dapat menentukan hala tuju terbaik jika mahu terus terbabit memajukan bidang penerokaan angkasa lepas.

Beliau berkata, pengalaman dan hasil kajian yang bakal dibawa pulang angkasawan pertama negara, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha dari Stesen Angkasa Antarabangsa (ISS) amat berguna untuk dijadikan kayu pengukur bagi kerajaan dalam menilai kejayaan program itu.

Katanya, beliau percaya pengalaman dan kejayaan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar nanti dapat memberikan input yang penting sama ada Malaysia boleh terus terbabit dalam misi penghantaran angkasawan seterusnya.

"Saya percaya apabila Dr Sheikh Muszaphar balik, banyak pengalaman dapat diceritakan kepada rakyat Malaysia dan daripada pandangan serta pengalaman itu, adakah kita boleh mengambil bahagian dalam misi berikutnya.

"Setakat ini saya berpuas hati dengan perkembangan yang dilalui angkasawan pertama negara terutama berkaitan tanggungjawabnya menjalankan kajian diamanahkan," katanya dalam telepersidangan selama kira-kira 15 minit bersama Dr Sheikh Muszaphar di sini, malam tadi.


Turut serta dalam telepersidangan yang disiarkan menerusi Astro dan RTM1 itu ialah isteri Perdana Menteri, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah. Hadir sama, Menteri Sains Teknologi dan Inovasi, Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis.

Dalam telepersidangan itu, Perdana Menteri berkata, beliau gembira kerana angkasawan negara mendapat kerjasama baik daripada krew Russia dan Amerika Syarikat di sana.

Katanya, beliau juga gembira kerana Dr Sheikh Muszaphar mampu mengerjakan ibadat solat, berpuasa dan berhari raya di ISS serta menyaksikan pemandangan luar biasa selain tidak menghadapi masalah kesihatan.

Perdana Menteri berkata, rakyat Malaysia amat berbangga dengan kejayaan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar berada di angkasa lepas dan mendoakan angkasawan itu selamat ketika di sana serta pulang ke bumi pada 20 Oktober nanti.

"Ini menunjukkan latihan yang dijalani Dr Sheikh Muszaphar di Russia sebelum dihantar ke angkasa adalah memadai dan mencukupi," katanya yang turut berbangga kerana angkasawan pertama itu sentiasa ingat serta bangga bahawa dirinya rakyat Malaysia.

Perdana Menteri juga mengucapkan tahniah kepada Dr Sheikh Muszaphar kerana pihak Eropah turut berminat dengan kajian yang dijalankannya serta berharap beliau dapat menjalankan kajian berkenaan mengikut jadual.

“Saya turut ingin melihat segala pengalaman Dr Sheikh Muszaphar dicatat setiap hari untuk dikongsi rakyat Malaysia dan berharap ia dapat dijadikan buku sebagai tatapan umum apabila pulang nanti,” katanya.

Terdahulu, pada awal sidang video itu, Perdana Menteri turut mengambil kesempatan mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya kepada Dr Sheikh Muszaphar bagi pihak dirinya dan keluarga serta seluruh rakyat Malaysia.

Sementara itu, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar pula menyuarakan harapannya supaya kejayaan yang dicapainya sebagai angkasawan pertama negara dapat menyuntik semangat supaya Malaysia melahirkan lebih ramai jurutera angkasa lepas pada masa depan .

Beliau berharap, bidang sains angkasa lepas dapat menarik minat lebih ramai generasi muda di Malaysia yang bercita-cita untuk menjadi angkasawan seperti dirinya sekali gus berupaya menghasilkan roket sendiri.

Isteri Perdana Menteri pula berkata, sebagai seorang ibu, beliau ingin tahu sama ada Dr Sheikh Muszaphar sihat dan dapat menikmati makanan yang dibawanya. Angkasawan itu memaklumkan dia sihat dan gembira kerana jadual pemakanannya baik serta dapat berkongsi bekalan yang dibawa dengan krew lain ISS.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, berlepas ke ISS pada 10 Oktober bersama angkasawan Amerika Syarikat, Peggy Whitson dan Jurutera Penerbangan Russia, Yuri Malenchenko dari Baikonur Cosmodrome di Kazakhstan, dan semalam ialah hari kelima beliau berada di stesen berkenaan.

- Berita Harian -

[HangPC2]

Oct 09: Things that I would do in space!

To all Malaysians ,

I am truly honored and grateful to all the wishes that I have been getting from all walks of life . The messages keep on pouring in and at this moment , it truly helps me emotionally to prepare myself mentally for my journey to space. Believe me , I read every word of it and it really touches me to do my very best for the nation. I promise to make Malaysia proud. That's a promise I plan to keep !

Many asked me what kind of food am I bringing to space ? The followings are the menu that has been approved and will be brought up to the ISS.

Biryani Chicken
Satay Ayam
Rendang Tok
Sliced dried Mango
Banana rolls
Tempe
Ginger Jelly
Roselle Granola Bar
Kuih Raya Bangkit

These are prepared by MARDI and I had tasted them previously. Most of them are vacuum packed and I hope to bring Malaysian culture in the form of food and share them with the rest of the cosmonauts. Unfortunately they couldn't make my favourite Roti Canai.

I definitely would be praying and fasting in space. I am not sure how it would be done but will share my experiences to all the Muslims all over the world when I get back. After all , Islam is a way of life and I am quite sure I would not face much difficulties. InsyaAllah.

Besides conducting many scientific experiment , I will be conducting live conference session with Malaysian students in the study of hygroscopic movement and fluids in space. With this in mind, I am hoping to twirl a spinning top ( gasing ) while interacting with the students. The last time I played gasing was a very long time ago. I am also hoping to wear a Batik shirt in space.

Space is all about sharing culture and tradition where cosmonauts from all over the world would gather and conduct experiments as a whole. I am hoping to introduce Malaysian culture and tradition to the whole world since we will be viewed by millions from earth. Of course my main priority is still the scientific experiments of cancer cells, bacterias, protein crystallization and a few more collaborating with the European Space Agency
experiments.

ISS orbits earth 16 times a day and I will surely get my NIKON 2X onboard camera ready to take pictures of our beloved country. I hope I could catch a glimpse of the twin tower by using a very powerful lens. Do look up in the sky at night and you might see the ISS passing by above your head. Check out the timings through the internet. It's like a bright star but moving very fast indeed at 27,000 km per hour.

I am also interested in ham radios and would be conducting some ham sessions with not only Malaysians but other countries too. I would take many pictures and videos to share it with all Malaysians once I get back.

''I am living in a dream. A dream and hope of all Malaysians. I am hoping to be the eyes and ears of all Malaysian souls in space. It's time for all Malaysians to dream BIG and reach for the stars ! "

Till then

Dr Sheikh
Angkasawan Negara

[Betong]

Kebanyakan makanan yang beliau makan adalah makanan yang telah dikeringkan. Macamana ek rasanya... Best ker tak...
Semalam tengok dalam tv temubual dengan Pak Lah... Happy semacam ajer... Kira okey la tu...

[HangPC2]

Living lab on board the ISS

By JANE RITIKOS in Moscow

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor’s own body has become a live laboratory for Malaysian, European and Japanese scientists who are studying the effects of micro-gravity and space radiation on humans.

National Angkasawan Programme director Kol Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh said by being in space, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar is exposed to certain unnatural conditions and risks including exposure to radiation equivalent to five chest X-rays daily, while micro-gravity causes redistribution of his body fluid.

Kol Dr Zulkeffeli, who is also his flight surgeon, said the Angkasawan’s health status had to be monitored constantly as his normal body function would be affected.

These effects on humans in space are also being studied under the European Space Agency and Japanese Space Exploration Agency (Jaxa) experiments, of which Dr Sheikh Muszaphar is participating as a specimen.

For the ESA, he uses the agency’s eye-tracking device to record his visual vestibular mismatch or how micro-gravity affects his balance, and the extent eye movements




Message from space: Excited students of SK Bukit Damansara can hardly contain their excitement after speaking to , Dr Sheikh Muszaphar via radio link at the National Planetarium yesterday.


The other ESA experiments are motion perception, lower back pain and immunology for pre- and post flight. In exchange for the collaboration, he gets to bring back an extra 2kg of mass load to earth.

Under the Jaxa study, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s exposure to radiation is measured through a dosimeter placed inside his pocket.

Dr Zulkeffeli said that the level of radiation exposure was “sensitive (classified) information” and even the crewmember would not like to know how much radiation they were exposed to. Space conditions are also said to affect the crewmen’s sperm count.

“The Russians said the most vulnerable area is the sleeping cabin so the crew do not like to sleep there,” said Dr Zulkeffeli.

For active protection, the crew wear protective clothing and the ISS shell has aluminium coating and a shield to deflect solar radiation.

“The ISS’ positioning according to the sun location on each orbit is also to protect against solar radiation and not only to position the ISS solar panel,” he said.

He added that the solar activity was monitored minute-by-minute by ground control staff who predicted the level to position the ISS away from exposure.

- NST -

This post has been edited by HangPC2: Oct 18 2007, 08:52 AM

[HangPC2]

Angkasawan project a right move, says ex-spaceman


By MUGUNTAN VANAR

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia made a sound move in sending a man into space although millions of ringgit was spent on it, said former US astronaut Robert Hoot Gibson.

“I think it is justified to embark on the space science programme when you look at the excitement you are going to build in the young people in the space programme development.

“There are a lot of things going on in space for Malaysia,” Gibson, 61, from Nashville, Tennessee told a press conference after a presentation on his aeronautical experiences at the astronaut road show at Universiti Malaysia Sabah on Tuesday.

Although there were smart ways to send people to space without spending RM100mil for each mission, he said there were partnership ways to do it and team work arrangements that might be accomplished.

“Sure, we could walk over to Russia and say look I will pay RM20mil. That is one way you could do it. I am sure there are smarter ways to do it, with that in mind I think it is appropriate it (space mission) should be continued,” he added.

Malaysia sent her first Angkasawan to space as part of a package deal with Russia in return for buying fighter jets.

Gibson, who has been to space five times, is here talk to youths about a career in space.

He said sending a Malaysian into space was a good message to youths in the country, as there were plenty of opportunities in space – from being a scientist or an engineer, among other things.


- NST -

[HangPC2]

‘New kid’ fits in well at ISS


By JANE RITIKOS

MOSCOW: Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor may be a new kid on the block at the International Space Station but his crew members are impressed with him.

Head of the scientific team Prof Dr A. Rahman A. Jamal said the Russians were impressed with his ability to adapt to space conditions and conduct the experiments with ease.

“They are impressed that he understood clearly the whole experiment process.

“Credit goes to him and the team who made it simple for him to carry out the experiments,” he said.

Dr Rahman added that feedback from the Russians monitoring the ISS from the Mission Control Centre in Moscow was important as the experiments were the core goal of the national space programme.

Yesterday, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar terminated the liver cancer and leukaemia cell experiments while those on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (for inflammation) and osteopath (for bone loss) would end on the last day onboard the ISS.

Dr Rahman said the experiments had gone well although it was not easy to do them using a floating plastic glove box.

“Even when he helped (flight engineer) Yuri Malenchencko repair the eye-tracking device, it just involves screws but the process in space takes four times longer than on earth.

“The job is recorded as a major component of the crew activities,” he said.

Dr Rahman said results of all the experiments were of interest to international scientists, adding that University of Osaka was keen in the protein crystallisation experiment while the University of Colorado had assisted in preparations for the cells and microbes experiments.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar has a tight schedule onboard the ISS including taking photographs of his activities with help from his crew members.

He also spends time downloading the pictures to be sent to the MCC. He continues with his symbolic activities including 14 that are symbolic to Malaysia.


- NST -

[HangPC2]

Call to take up rocket science


By MANJIT KAUR

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor hopes the younger generation will take up space engineering to enable the country to build its own rocket one day.

He also said he hoped more Malaysian astronauts would be born.

“I hope this will be a new era for all Malaysians,” he said via a 15-minute videoconferencing session with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from the International Space Station yesterday.

Abdullah had asked him on his experience that he had gained from being sent into space.

On the progress of his experiments, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said everything was progressing well and on time.

He said it was great working with the crew at the ISS and both the Russian and Americans were helping him all the time.




Space talk: Abdullah and Jeanne being interviewed by Astro’s Angkasa1host Nizal Mohammad before the Prime Minister spoke to Dr Sheikh Muszaphar live via videoconferencing yesterday.


“They believe that we (Malaysians) are capable of becoming professional Angkasawan,” he said.

He told Abdullah that he was jotting down notes from the day he started training. Abdullah had asked him to keep a diary of his experiences so that a book could be produced.

He said he could carry out his duties as a Muslim and had no problem praying.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar also read the Rukunegara and held up a mini Jalur Gemilang as well as the country’s 50th anniversary emblem.

Abdullah wished Dr Sheikh Muszaphar “Selamat Hari Raya” on behalf of all Malaysians and said he was glad that the videoconferencing went through after the first one was dashed due to a transmission hitch from Moscow on Sunday.

Abdullah’s wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, who also participated in the videoconference, said as a mother, she wanted to know if Dr Sheikh Muszaphar was eating well and if the other crew members enjoyed the Malaysian food that was sent up there.

He replied: “I am eating well and my health is great. The crew enjoyed the food.”

She told him to take care and that all Malaysians were looking forward to his homecoming.


- NST -

This post has been edited by HangPC2: Oct 18 2007, 08:51 AM

[HangPC2]

Soyuz














This post has been edited by HangPC2: Oct 19 2007, 08:46 AM

[singapak2]

are indonesians proud or jealous about this??

i'm singaporean, i feel proud for malaysia and malay.

[Majapahitans]

are indonesians proud or jealous about this??

Wow.... did Malaysian really care of what Indonesian will think...?
Don't worry, most of us is indifference towards this issue....

Anyway Tahniah...
Selamat atas Pencapaian Malaysia....
I hope this will serve as the inspirations for us to move even further....

[HangPC2]

Soyuz TMA-11

[DrGieL3]

Another opinion from Michael Backman (The Age - Australia) ..... Yes, you can "ignore" if you don't like it ...

Malaysia bukan "boleh" tapi "bodoh" - Akhbar Australia

KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Okt: Sebuah akhbar Australia bukannya menyifatkan Malaysia sebagai "boleh" tetapi "bodoh" apabila membelanjakan RM95 juta untuk menghantar rakyatnya di angkasa lepas.

Kolumnis akhbar The Age, Melbourne, Michael Backman dalam tulisannya menyifatkan para pemimpin Malaysia sering berbangga dengan pencapaiannya tetapi apabila ditanya kepada orang luar Malaysia, di manakah Malaysia? mereka tidak akan tahu pun negara kecil itu.

"That's not Malaysia "boleh", that's Malaysia "bodoh" (stupid)," tulis Backman mengakhiri tulisannya yang disiarkan 15 November 2006 lagi ketika Malaysia sedang mengwar-warkan akan menghantar rakyatnya ke angkasalepas.

Ia disebarkan secara meluas dalam internet selepas Angkasawan Malaysia, Dr Sheikh Muzaffar Shukur dihantar ke ISS menggunakan kapal angkasa milik Rusia baru-baru ini.

Menurut Backman, pemimpin Malaysia yang dipimpin oleh Barisan Nasional (BN) sering menunjuk-nunjuk dengan pencapaian yang diperolehi oleh Malaysia.

Antaranya, Malaysia menggunakan syarikat minyak miliknya, Petronas untuk membina Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), iaitu bangunan yang tertinggi ketika ia dibina.

"Malaysia sangat berbangga dengan bangunan ini. Padahal mereka hanya membuat sedikit sahaja untuknya.

"Duitnya datang dari bumi (minyak Petronas), juruteranya dikontrakkan kepada syarikat Korea Selatan.

"Bahkan, mereka tidak pun menguruskan kompleks perniagaan yang ada di bangunan ini. Ia diuruskan oleh syarikat Australia, Westfield," tulis Backman dalam tulisannya.

Tentang angkasawan, Backman menulis, rakyat Malaysia itu hanya menumpang kapal angkasa milik orang lain dengan membayar kapal itu seumpama teksi sahaja.

"Apa yang Malaysia dapat dengan menggunakan program angkasalepas milik orang lain sebagai teksi? Sah tiada manafaat teknologi yang diperolehi. Tetapi sudah tentu Malaysia sekali lagi akan berkata 'boleh". Masalahnya mereka tidak, ini bukan program angkasawan mereka," tulis Backman.

Link: http://www.tranungkite.net/modules.p...ticle&sid=4158

This post has been edited by DrGieL3: Oct 19 2007, 09:38 AM

[malaccan]

I was as proud as the next Malaysian seeing Dr Sheik Muszaphar in the ISS but there really is no need to send the second angkasawan into space. The govt should first fix the problems on our little piece of land on earth first!

[HangPC2]

Preparations for trip home begin


By JANE RITIKOS in Moscow

Although Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor is not due to leave the International Space Station (ISS) for Earth for three more days, preparations are already underway for the journey home.

Malaysia’s first Angkasawan will depart from the ISS on Sunday in the Soyuz 14S capsule with current ISS commander Feodor Yuchikin, who will be the capsule commander, and Oleg Kotov as flight engineer.

The crew fitted their customised seats into the capsule and packing has also begun. On Wednesday, they rehearsed the capsule undocking exercise.

The packing of cargo for the return trip goes according to weight distribution in the capsule. It is also because of weight distribution that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar had to lose 2kg prior to his trip into space.

Of the15kg he brought to the ISS, he will only be bringing back 7kg. This includes 200gm of his personal items.




For safekeeping: Dr Sheikh Muszaphar storing one of his experiment kits behind a control panel to take advantage of its optimum temperature.


The experiments which Dr Sheikh Muszaphar conducted onboard the ISS have to be packed with utmost care because the impact of the Soyuz capsule’s landing would be akin to that of an auto accident.

The experiments have to be loaded into a special bag and the breakable protein crystals, for example, need to be able to withstand the landing impact.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Molecular Biology Institute (Umbi) director Prof Dr A. Rahman A. Jamal, who heads the scientific team, said that for this reason, engineering and logistics support was crucial, including the designing of special hardware and packaging.

The cargo’s retrieval becomes more crucial because the results of the scientists’ and Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s work in space have to be preserved and delivered intact.

Upon landing, Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd senior engineer Firdaus Othman will go to the landing site in Kazakhstan with National Angkasawan Programme director Kol Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh to retrieve the cargo and bring it here.

“They have to be held steadily when being transported to Moscow. The temperature has to be maintained because the brittle crystals can break if it gets too cold,” Dr Zulkeffeli said.

Yesterday, a handover briefing for the ISS commandership was held.

American Peggy Whitson, who was on the Soyuz 15S mission which brought Dr Sheikh Muszaphar and Russian flight engineer Yuri Malenchencko to the ISS, will replace Yuchikin as ISS commander.

The ISS crew is also busy with expansion work to set up the European Space Agency (ESA) module to make way for the European component to join the US and Russian modules to make up the ISS.

The work involved American Clay Anderson carrying out a space walk to remove the US shuttle node to facilitate the construction of the ESA facility.

“Although they are busy with expansion work, the crew still assists Dr Sheikh Muszaphar with his activities. He is contracted 10 hours of assistance and the commander will assign someone to help him,” Dr Zulkeffeli said.


- The Star -

[HangPC2]

Gibson: Space efforts good for peace


PENANG: When retired Nasa astronaut Robert “Hoot” Gibson shook the hand of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Dezhurov in space more than 12 years ago, it was the official end to the Cold War.

Gibson, who spoke at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) yesterday, did not know that at the time, but newspapers later reported that the handshake officially ended the war.

Gibson said space efforts were a good way to get nations to work together for something that was peacefully orientated.




Astronaut tales: Gibson talking about his experiences in space at USM yesterday.


“When you work together, you’ll find that we’re more alike than different. In the end, we’re all earthlings,” he said with a smile.

In July 1995, Gibson commanded a seven-member crew from the United States to dock with the Russian space station Mir.

As was customary, both commanders met at the hatch and shook hands.

The 10-day mission, which was Gibson’s last and longest, was the first time Russian and American crews were allowed to roam around each other’s spacecraft.

“We were docked at Mir for five days and during that time, the Russian crew were free to explore the Atlantis unsupervised as we were allowed to do the same on the Mir.

“It was funny, because as a fighter pilot in the army, I was trained to shoot down Russian pilots and there I was meeting with people who were probably trained to shoot me down as well,” said the Vietnam War veteran.

Yesterday’s talk was organised by the Mimos and supported by the National Space Agency and USM.

Besides his personal experiences, Gibson spoke on various facts about space missions.

“It doesn’t matter if you sleep on the ceiling, upside down or on the walls, because it all feels the same,” he said.

He also added that many astronauts just swallowed their toothpaste due to the lack of gravity and sinks in space.

Along with his presentation, Gibson showed the audience pictures of life in space (some of which were taken by him), the Aurora Borealis as well as images of Paris, Russia and Africa from space.


- The Star -

[Ringo]

Well done to the Malaysian for sending your first people to Space...

I was actually in Malaysia at Dataran Merdeka watching on Big Screen during the Lift off and the feeling was really great the public was really supportive of their Angkasawan ... Well Done !!!

P.S I bet Malaysia Greatest Rival will be very Jealous of this historic event by a Malaysian hehehehe

This post has been edited by Ringo: Oct 20 2007, 11:31 PM

[HangPC2]

Sheikh Muszaphar: Space programmes have benefited the world


Those who criticise the national space project should look at the larger picture and take note of the proven benefits such missions have brought to other countries.

Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor said cynics who said the programme was not worthwhile were wrong.

“They should look at the various benefits space programmes have produced for the medical and scientific fields as well as spin-offs which benefited the world,” said Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, adding that Malaysia’s space venture would also place it in the same ranking as other developed countries in terms of science.

He said this to a question posed to him through Prof A. Rahman A. Jamal, who heads the scientific team, which had been communicating with him from the Mission Control Centre in Moscow.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar is also a little reluctant to return to Earth tomorrow, saying that his space trip had been one “terrific” experience.

“I would like to stay as long as possible. I think I am born for space,” said Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, who, so far, had not experienced any negative health effects.

Adapting well to space conditions has also allowed him to conduct the scientific experiments smoothly.

The cheerful Angkasawan said he was truly enjoying his short stint on the International Space Station and was grateful for the opportunity.

National Angkasawan Programme director Kol Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh, who is Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s mission flight surgeon, and National Angkasawan Programme technical committee member Datuk Dr Mazlan Nordin will accompany the military rescue team when the cosmonauts arrive.

Dr Zulkeffeli will be involved checking Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s health while Dr Mazlan will retrieve the experiment samples after the Russian experts extract them from the capsule.

- The Star -