Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor

Infobox Astronaut
name = Datuk Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor


type = ANGKASA Astronaut
status = Active
nationality =Malaysian
date_birth = birth date and age|1972|07|27
place_birth =Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
occupation =Orthopedic Surgeon
rank =
selection =2006 Angkasawan program
time =10d 21h 14m
mission = Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-10
insignia = | Datuk Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor (born Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie bin Sheikh Mustapha on July 27, 1972) is a Malaysian orthopaedic surgeon and is the first Malaysian to go into space. He was launched to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-11 with the Expedition 16 crew on October 10 2007.Cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-09-20-807374503_x.htm|title=Malaysian Astronaut Won't Ignore Faith|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=The Associated Press / USA Today|year=2007|author=The Associated Press|language=English] Cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSL3034275220070930|title=Saudi prince says Islam proud of Malaysia spaceman|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Reuters|year=2007|author=Andrew Hammond|language=English] Sheikh Muszaphar flew under an agreement with Russia through the Angkasawan program, and returned to Earth on October 21, 2007, aboard Soyuz TMA-10 with the Expedition 15 crew members, Fyodor Yurchikhin and Oleg Kotov, after nine days aboard the station.Cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUKNOA43625320070924|title=First Malaysian in space to observe Ramadan later|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Reuters|year=2007|author=Chris Baldwin|language=English] cite web | url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/jul/HQ_M07087_ISS_briefing.html |author=NASA| title= NASA Holds Briefing With First Female Station Commander and Crew|publisher=NASA|date=July 17, 2007|accessmonthday=July 23|accessyear=2007]

Career

Sheikh Muszaphar was born in Kuala Lumpur and attended high school at Maktab Rendah Sains MARA in Muar. He then earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.Cite web |url=http://www.ukm.my/english/News/berita_angkasawan.html|title=Angkasawan lands in UKM | accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 7|publisher=Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia|year=2007|author=Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia|language=English] .He was pursuing his Masters of Surgery in Orthopaedic Surgery at University Kebangsaan Malaysia when he joined the 'Angkasawan' program.

Sheikh Muszaphar is an orthopedic surgeon,Cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/10/10/russia.space.ap/index.html|title=First Malaysian in space to observe Ramadan later|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 10|publisher=CNN|year=2007|author=CNN|language=English] and a university medical officer in medicine at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. In 1998, Sheikh Muszaphar worked at Hospital Seremban, followed by a move to Kuala Lumpur General Hospital in 1999, and was on staff at Hospital Selayang from 2000 through 2001. Sheikh Muszaphar is also a part-time model.Cite web|url=http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=52913|title=Part-time model is first choice for astronaut |accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 7|publisher=Daily Express News|year=2007|author=Daily Express News|language=English] Cite web|url=http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Part-time_model_is_Malaysias_first_astronaut_999.html|title=Part-time model is Malaysia's first astronaut|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 7|publisher=SpaceDaily|year=2007|author=SpaceDaily|language=English] Cite web|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hOWGR1Z3Eg-DUUtjvCZTcoyRyjqw|title=Malaysians take last tests before blast off into space|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 7|publisher=AFP|year=2007|author=AFP|language=English]

Angkasawan program

Sheikh Muszaphar and three other finalists were selected at the beginning of 2006 for the Malaysian Angkasawan spaceflight program. The program arose after Russia agreed to transport one Malaysian to the ISS as part of a multi-billion purchase of 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets by Malaysia. After completing initial training at Star City in Russia, Sheikh Muszaphar and Faiz Khaleed were selected to undergo an 18-month training program in Russia, at the end of which Sheikh Muszaphar was chosen as the prime crew member, while Faiz Khaleed served as back-up.Cite web|url=http://www.spacedaily.com/2006/060904064124.bkjsh0su.html|title=Malaysia announces first astronaut|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 7|publisher=Agence France-Presse|year=2007|author=Space Daily|language=English] Following the final medical tests and training examinations, on September 17, it was announced that Sheikh Muszaphar would be flying on Soyuz 11.Cite web|url=http://www.wifr.com/webnews/headlines/9853481.html|title=First Malaysian Cosmonaut|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=WIFR - Gray Television Group|year=2007|author=WIFR - Gray Television Group|language=English]

During a NASA news conference with the Expedition 16 crew on July 23, 2007, and news conferences following his selection, Sheikh Muszaphar said he hoped to be able to take various live cell cultures to study during his flight.Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7036933.stm|title=Malaysia astronaut set to launch|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 10|publisher=BBC News|year=2007|author=BBC News|language=English]

Terminology

Flying as a guest of the Russian government, [Cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/304710/1/.html|title=Space fever grips Malaysia as launch nears|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 13|publisher=Channel News Asia|year=2007|author=Channel News Asia|language=English] Sheikh Muszaphar's role aboard Soyuz and the ISS is referred to as a spaceflight participant in English-language Russian Federal Space Agency and NASA documents and press briefings.Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/sep/HQ_M07122_Exp_15_and_16_crew_exchange_prt.htm|title=NASA TV Coverage Set for Space Station Crew Exchange|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 10|publisher=NASA|year=2007|author=NASA|language=English] Cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20575522/|title=Russian tycoon-explorer may go into space|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 10|publisher=MSNBC|year=2007|author=MSNBC|language=English] Cite web|url=http://www.federalspace.ru/Member.asp?screwID=40|title=Biography of Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor in Russian Federal Space Agency Website |accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 12|publisher=Russian Federal Space Agency|year=2007|author=Russian Federal Space Agency|language=English]

Speaking to Malaysian media outlets, Alexander Karchava, the Russian ambassador to Malaysia, stated that Sheikh Muszaphar is a "fully-fledged cosmonaut".Cite web|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/4/nation/19072942&sec=nation|title=Russian envoy confirms that Malaysian is not a ‘mere passenger’|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=TheStar|year=2007|author=theStar|language=English] In an interview with the Malaysian Star newspaper, Robert Gibson, a retired NASA astronaut, shared his opinion that Sheikh Muszaphar is fully qualified as an astronaut, and as such, he should be called one. Gibson also said he regarded Sheikh Muszaphar as a peer.Cite web|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/11/nation/19142225&sec=nation|title=Malaysian a full-fledged cosmonaut, says ex-astronaut|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 11|publisher=TheStar|year=2007|author=theStar|language=English]

paceflight

Soyuz TMA-11 carrying Whitson, Malenchenko, and Sheikh Muszaphar, successfully launched at 13:22 UTC, Wednesday, October 10, 2007.Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5250|title=Soyuz TMA-11 launches carrying Expedition 16|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 10|publisher=NASA Spaceflight.com|year=2007|author=Sergi Manstov|language=English] Cite web|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/10/nation/20071010211910&sec=nation|title=First Malaysian in space|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 10|publisher=Star Publications (Malaysia)|year=2007|author=Jane Ritikos|language=English] Cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL1016094020071010|title=Russian rocket launches first Malaysian into space|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 10|publisher=Reuters|year=2007|author=Shavkat Rakhmatullayev|language=English]

pace experiments

Sheikh Muszaphar performed experiments on board the International Space Station relating to the characteristics and growth of liver cancer and leukemia cells, the crystallisation of various proteins and microbes in space. [Cite web|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/11/nation/19136025&sec=nation|title=Mission in space|accessyear=2007|accessmonth=October 13|publisherTheStar|year=2007|author=theStar|language=English]

The experiments relating to liver cancer, leukemia cells and microbes will benefit general science and medical research, while the experiments relating to the crystallisation of proteins, lipases in this case, will directly benefit local industries.

Lipase are a type of protein enzymes used in the manufacturing of a diverse range of products from textiles to cosmetics, and the opportunity to grow these in space will mean a possibility for Malaysian scientists to take a crack at an industry worth some USD2.2bil (MYR7.7bil) worldwide by producing these locally.Cite web|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/9/22/nation/18514133&sec=nation|title=Tapping into space research|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=September 22|publisher=TheStar|year=2007|author=theStar|language=English]

paceflight and religion

Since Sheikh Muszaphar is a Muslim, and as his time in space coincided with the last part of Ramadan, the Islamic National Fatwa Council drew up the first comprehensive guidebook for Muslims in space. The 18-page guidebook is titled "Guidelines for Performing Islamic Rites (Ibadah) at the International Space Station", and details issues such as how to pray in a low-gravity environment, how to locate Mecca from the ISS, how to determine prayer times, and issues surrounding fasting. The orbit of the ISS results in one day/night cycle every 90 minutes,Cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/crew/exp7/luletters/lu_letter9.html|title=Day in the Life|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 7|publisher=NASA|year=2004|author=NASA|language=English] so the issues of fasting during Ramadan are also addressed. The guidebook will be translated into Russian, Arabic, and English.Cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKKLR33337720071006|title=Guidebook issued for Muslims in space|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 7| publisher=Reuters| year=2007| author=Reuters| language=English] Cite web| url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/6/nation/19095525&sec=nation|title=Guidebook for Muslims in space|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 7|publisher=Star Publications (Malaysia)| year=2007| author=Mazwin Nik Anis|language=English] Anan C. Mohd, from Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development said that fasting while traveling is optional, so Sheikh Muszaphar could choose what he would like to do, but if he did decide to fast in space, the times would be centered around local time in Baikonur, where the launch takes place.Cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=nw20070917101403220C248955|title=Muslim astronaut to blast off during Ramadan|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 7|publisher=The Independent Online|year=2007|author=The Independent Online|language=English] Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7037901.stm|title=Landmark lift-off for space crew|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 10|publisher=BBC News|year=2007|author=BBC|language=English] Sheikh Muszaphar celebrated Eid ul-Fitr aboard the station, and packed some satay and cookies to hand out to the rest of the crew on October 13, 2007 to mark the end of Ramadan.Cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL0910891120071010|title=Astronaut plans first Eid party in space|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 10|publisher=Reuters|year=2007|author=Reuters|language=English]

References

See also

*Timeline of space travel by nationality

External links

* [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html NASA's International Space Station site]
* [http://www.angkasa.gov.my/welcome.php Malaysia Space Program Site]
* [http://www.angkasawan.com.my/index.html Official Angkasawan Program site]
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/international/english/muszaphar_sheikh.htm Spacefacts biography of Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor]
* [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/15/nation/20061115181546&sec=nation Malaysia's first astronaut to do what no one in space has done before]
* [http://syokkahwin.com/blog/2007/10/16/video-clip-sheikh-muszaphar-shukor-from-iss-space-nasa/ Interview with Sheikh Muszaphar from the ISS]