Angkasawan program

The Angkasawan program was an initiative by the Malaysian government to send a Malaysian to the International Space Station on board Soyuz TMA-11. The program was named after the Malay word for astronaut, Angkasawan. It resulted in Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor becoming the first Malaysian in space on 10 October 2007.

Angkasawan program
CountryMalaysia / Russia
PurposeAstronaut training

Background and objectives

The program was officially announced by Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohamad, as a joint programme with the Russian Federation. It was a project under the government-to-government offset agreement through the purchase of Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets for the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Under this agreement the Russian Federation bore the cost of training two Malaysians for space travel and for sending one to the International Space Station (ISS) in October 2007.

The National Space Agency (ANGKASA), Ministry of Science, Technologies and Innovations was given the responsibility of selecting the candidates. Two candidates were then sent to the Cosmonaut Training Programme in Star City, Russia for 18 months of training.

The government set the main objectives of the program as uplifting the national image and instilling in the younger generation greater interest in mathematics and science. At the launch, the Malaysian Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Jamaluddin Jarjis said: "It is not merely a project to send a Malaysian into space. After 50 years of independence, we need a new shift and a new advantage to be more successful as a nation. "We want to awe and inspire, and spur Malaysians to attain greater success by embracing science and technology."[1]

Later, Jamaluddin Jarjis was more specific as to the objective of the program when he said that it "was to create awareness among Malaysians the importance of science, technology and the space industry, which could help develop the economy further."[2]

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor himself said that "I am not seeking fame or looking forward to be welcomed like a celebrity, but my quest is to inspire Malaysians, especially school children to like learning the subject of science and the space industry."[2]

Selection

The four finalists were:[3]

On 23 July 2007, Sheikh Muszaphar participated in a NASA news conference with the Expedition 16 crew.[8] Faiz Khaleed served as backup to Sheikh Muszaphar.

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor was launched on Soyuz TMA-11 on 10 October 2007 and became the first Malaysian in space.[9] He returned on Soyuz TMA-10 after a ten-day stay on the ISS.[10][11]

Experiments
#ExperimentCodeDescription
1Cells in SpaceCISStudy of the effects of microgravity and space radiation on eukaryotic cells focusing on changes in the structure and function at the cellular and molecular levels
2Microbes in SpaceMISStudy of the effects of microgravity on motility of bacteria, drug resistances as well as changes in gene expression (using the microarray approach). Expect to show some effects of bacterial growth using a pre-determined minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).
3Protein Crystallisation in SpacePCSThe purpose of this experiment is to compare the crystal growth of lipases on Earth with that grown in microgravity. Several test conditions will also be tested to improve the protein crystallisation process on Earth as well as in space.
4Malaysian Food in SpaceFISIncrease the variety and quality of food available to space travellers by identifying new food items (specifically typical Malaysian dishes) that are appropriate for consumption during space flight.
5Study of spinning motions in microgravity environmentTOPA physics demonstration to show the effect of microgravity on the motions of spinning object using a top.
6PR and SymbolicsPASPR and Symbolics activities.

On 15 November 2006, in a response to a question in the Dewan Rakyat, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry parliamentary secretary Rohani Abdul Karim (representing the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry) stated that the Malaysian astronaut would, "spin top and toss Batu Seremban (five-stone game) as part of an experiment during his space travel". She added, "The astronaut will also paint a batik motif and make "teh tarik" ("pulled" tea) which would be shared with his fellow astronauts.".[12]

However, on 18 December 2006, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Jamaluddin Jarjis said that making teh-tarik in space would not happen. Various experiments drawn up by selected Malaysian institutes would be carried out by the Malaysian astronaut while in zero-gravity. In the planned physics education (live class in space) portion of the spaceflight, the astronaut will also be, "demonstrating the behaviour of fluids" and "observing the effects of a spinning object", to show Malaysian students on the ground the effects of zero-gravity on selected physical phenomena.[13]

During the mission, Sheikh Muszaphar performed experiments on board the International Space Station relating to the characteristics and growth of liver cancer and leukaemia cells, the crystallisation of various proteins and microbes in space.[14]

The experiments relating to liver cancer, leukaemia cells and microbes were aimed at benefitting general science and medical research, while the experiments relating to the crystallisation of proteins, lipases in this case, were designed to benefit local industries.[15]

Criticism

The cost of sending Sheikh Muszaphar into space has been estimated at RM105 million (approximately US$26 million).[16] The Malaysian space program has been criticised as a waste of money for a developing nation that could ill afford such indulgences. Officials defended the funding of the programme as part of a US$900 million defence deal struck with Moscow in 2003 to buy 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter aircraft.[17]

Numerous individuals, especially residents of Malaysia, displayed opposition and ambiguity towards Sheikh Muszaphar's title as a spaceflight participant, citing the fact that he had trained alongside his crew for spaceflight and is fully qualified, arguing that he should be considered an astronaut.[18][19]

References
  1. Bernama. First Malaysian Goes Into Space, Nation Sets History 10 October 2007.
  2. Bernama. 28 October 2007.
  3. "Malaysia Narrows Astronaut Search to Four Candidates". Space.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2006.
  4. "Biographies of Astronaut and Cosmonaut Candidates: S. Vanajah A/P Siva Subramaniam". Retrieved 26 September 2008.
  5. "Biographies of Astronaut and Cosmonaut Candidates: Mohammed Faiz bin Kamaludin". Retrieved 26 September 2008.
  6. "Cosmonaut Biography: Faiz bin Khaleed". Retrieved 26 September 2008.
  7. "Cosmonaut Biography: Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor". Archived from the original on 21 October 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
  8. "NASA Holds Briefing With First Female Station Commander and Crew".
  9. "Malaysians over the moon at their first astronaut". Agence France-Presse. 10 October 2007. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
  10. "One for the Record Books Malaysian Heads into Space". Spacedaily.com. Retrieved 29 July 2006.
  11. Baldwin, Chris (22 October 2007). "First Malaysian astronaut returns to hero's welcome". Reuters. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
  12. "M'sian Astronauts To Spin Top, Toss Batu Seremban in Space". Bernama. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  13. "No Space for Teh-tarik". The Star. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  14. "Mission in space". TheStar. 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  15. theStar (2007). "Tapping into space research". TheStar. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
  16. "Space Travel". The Universe. Season 2. Episode 22. 5 February 2008. 44 minutes in. History. It would cost about $20 million for you to take a weekend trip up to the Space Station.
  17. "Malaysia's first astronaut heads to space". Straits Times. Archived from the original on 19 October 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2007.
  18. "Astronaut? 'Spaceflight Participant'?". Asian Correspondent. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  19. "Russian Envoy Confirms that Malaysian is not a 'mere passenger.'". The Star. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
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