Angkasawan program
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The Angkasawan program is an initiative by the Malaysian government to send a Malaysian to the International Space Station on board Soyuz TMA-11. Angkasawan is the Malay word for astronaut.
This program has both scientific and technological objectives, but is also conceived as inspirational. However, many see the program as more political than scientific.
Background
This program was officially announced by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohamad, as a joint programme with the Russian Federation. It is 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 bears the cost of training two Malaysians for space travel and for sending one to the International Space Station (ISS) in October 2007.
The Malaysian National Space Agency (ANGKASA), Ministry of Science, Technologies and Innovations was given the responsibility of selecting the candidates. Two of the four selected participants were sent to the Astronaut Training Programme in Star City, Russia for 18 months of training.
Selection
The four finalists were:[1]
- Siva Vanajah, 35 [1]
- Mohammed Faiz Kamaluddin, 34 [2]
- Faiz Khaleed, 25 [3]
- Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, 34 [4]
All four trained at Star City. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor was the leading candidate to be launched on Soyuz TMA-11 and to come back with Soyuz TMA-10 after a ten-day stay on the ISS.[2]
On July 23, 2007, Sheikh Muszaphar participated in a NASA news conference with the Expedition 16 crew.[3] Faiz Khaleed served as backup to Sheikh Muszaphar.
Planned experiments
| # | Experiment | Code | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cells in Space | CIS | Study 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 |
| 2 | Microbes in Space | MIS | Study 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). |
| 3 | Protein Crystallisation in Space | PCS | The 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. |
| 4 | Malaysian Food in Space | FIS | Increase the variety and quality of food available to space travelers by identifying new food items (specifically typical Malaysian dishes) that are appropriate for consumption during space flight. |
| 5 | Study of spinning motions in microgravity environment | TOP | A physics demonstration to show the effect of microgravity on the motions of spinning object using a top. |
| 6 | PR and Symbolics | PAS | PR and Symbolics activities. |
On November 15, 2006, in a response to a question in the Dewan Rakyat, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk 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."[4].
However, on December 18, 2006, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr 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 behavior 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.[5]
Criticism
The cost of sending a single Malaysian into space has been estimated at RM 105 million (approximately USD 26 million). The entire Malaysian space program has been criticized as a waste of money for a developing nation that could ill afford such indulgences.[6].
References
- ^ "Malaysia Narrows Astronaut Search to Four Candidates". Space.com. Retrieved 2006-07-29.
- ^ "One For The Record Books Malaysian Heads Into Space". Spacedaily.com. Retrieved 2006-07-29.
- ^ "NASA Holds Briefing With First Female Station Commander and Crew".
- ^ "M'sian Astronauts To Spin Top, Toss Batu Seremban In Space". Bernama. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
- ^ "No Space for Teh-tarik". The Star. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
- ^ "Malaysia's first astronaut heads to space". Straits Times. Retrieved 2007-10-18.