10/10/07 - The FIRST Malaysian COSMONAUT a.k.a. ANGKASAWAN in Space!

[Lastresorter]

Our very first angkasawan/astronaut/cosmonaut is flying to ISS (International Space Station) on the 10th of October... let's discuss it here

[James Foong]

Astronout? No lar, he is just a typical space tourist, funded by a poor desperate country we are. Fly there and tighten up a screw, and become an astronout graduate with a $20 millions gone? Pride or silly achievement we can only do?

[OshHisham]

Originally Posted by James Foong

Astronout? No lar, he is just a typical space tourist, funded by a poor desperate country we are. Fly there and tighten up a screw, and become an astronout graduate with a $20 millions gone? Pride or silly achievement we can only do?

OMG! you are too bz with your project until you miss all things round you?!...hello, it's morning already Mr. Foong!! wake up!!

[Tulsa]

Originally Posted by James Foong

Astronout? No lar, he is just a typical space tourist, funded by a poor desperate country we are. Fly there and tighten up a screw, and become an astronout graduate with a $20 millions gone? Pride or silly achievement we can only do?

this is the kind of people who has nothing good to say about his own country!

[TWK90]

Source : http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story...940&sec=nation

Russians find Malaysian duo fit for any space mission

By JANE RITIKOS

ASTANA (Kazakhstan): Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and Capt Dr Faiz Khaleed have been certified by the Russian Space Agency (Roskosmos) as cosmonauts.

Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis said the agency had also declared both qualified to go on any space missions and not only the Malaysian Space mission.

“Many people assume wrongly that the person will only be declared an astronaut when he or she has gone to space. In fact, astronauts in Russia and the United States are certified as astronauts after completing their training, then they wait to fly to space,” he said.

Jamaluddin said the Rosmoskos director-general informed him on Friday that both were certified as cosmonauts and that the Russian agency was satisfied that the two were fit and ready for a space mission.

However, the decision on who would be the Malaysian Angkasawan to fly to space on board the Soyuz spacecraft on Wednesday will be made as late as four hours before the flight which is scheduled for about 9pm Malaysia time.

“We are leaving it to the Russians to decide since both passed all psychological, physiological, physical and technical tests,” said Jamaluddin, who is here to witness the launch.

Sheikh Muszaphar and Dr Faiz are at the Baikonur Cosmodrome where they went through refresher courses.

Jamaluddin added that last-minute changes could be made even though Sheikh Muszaphar had been named as the primary crewmember because the situation at Baikonur was different from that in Moscow where they had their training.

He said if the country decided to send another Malaysian for a second space mission, the Angkasawan not chosen for this mission would be the next one to go to space.

The final preparations for the cosmonauts included theory and practical refresher courses for the launching process and docking procedures through computer simulations.

They were also trained to handle emergency situations.

The last practical training on Friday included crew fitness checks.

With three days left to the launch, both Sheikh Muszaphar and Dr Faiz and the other crewmembers have been placed under strict quarantine and outsiders including family members are not allowed to have any contact with them.

[cooltemper]

Originally Posted by Tulsa

this is the kind of people who has nothing good to say about his own country!

Of course you said like that, because you havent pay tax.

[wmkp]

Originally Posted by James Foong

Astronout? No lar, he is just a typical space tourist, funded by a poor desperate country we are. Fly there and tighten up a screw, and become an astronout graduate with a $20 millions gone? Pride or silly achievement we can only do?

More thn USD 30mil actually..thts the price quoted by JJ when he asked if we wana send the second guy as well...so shud b the same fr the first guy..its more expensive cause of the duration i think...wat a waste..cud have gotten anther su-30mkm fr tht money.

[OshHisham]

Originally Posted by wmkp

More thn USD 30mil actually..thts the price quoted by JJ when he asked if we wana send the second guy as well...so shud b the same fr the first guy..its more expensive cause of the duration i think...wat a waste..cud have gotten anther su-30mkm fr tht money.

huh, again?! i went to a seminar where Jamaluddin Jarjis gives a speech and he said...the program is FREE as a compromise for malaysia buying the sukhoi...!

what ever lah...better spend money into this program...rather than oversubsidized petrol/diesel and so on....

[White_soX]

Originally Posted by oshkoshbgood

huh, again?! i went to a seminar where Jamaluddin Jarjis gives a speech and he said...the program is FREE as a compromise for malaysia buying the sukhoi...!

Nth free except O2

[cooltemper]

Originally Posted by James Foong

Astronout? No lar, he is just a typical space tourist, funded by a poor desperate country we are. Fly there and tighten up a screw, and become an astronout graduate with a $20 millions gone? Pride or silly achievement we can only do?

What you said is so true.

[nazrey]

Russian envoy confirms that Malaysian is not a ‘mere passenger’
By JANE RITIKOS Thursday October 4, 2007
TheStar



Keeping tabs: Malaysian Mission programme director and flight surgeon Kol Dr
Zulkefli Jusoh checking on Dr Sheikh Muszaphar in Kazakhstan recently.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Angkasawan is no passenger or tourist but a full-fledged cosmonaut, said Russian ambassador to Malaysia Alexander Karchava.

“Russia does not see him as a mere passenger to the International Space Station (ISS). He is a researcher. The experiments he will carry out were discussed between Russia and Malaysia.

“We don’t consider him as a space tourist but a full-fledge cosmonaut,” he said in an interview at the Russian embassy here.

Recently, it was reported that Nasa had listed Malaysia’s two Angkasawans as space flight participants and not as astronauts for the ISS mission 16. This led to several reports here doubting the status of the Angkasawan.

Describing the cynics as possessing “logical myopia,” he said that during the medieval period, there were also critics who doubted the European quests to seek new territories, claiming it a waste of money.

“Yet in the end, it was those who went beyond the known worlds who reaped political and economic benefits.

“Now we must seek new territories in space,” he said, adding that the Angkasawan had an important job to do, carrying out vital scientific experiments to benefit Malaysia and the world.

To those calling it the Govern-ment’s “waste of money,” Karchava explained that the Russian government would foot the bill to send the Malaysian cosmonaut to space, as an offset deal for Malaysia’s purchase of its Sukhoi fighter jets.

He noted that even before the Oct 10 launch, Malaysia and Russia had already planned mutual projects, namely Malaysian scientists in-volved in the National Space Pro-gramme had been invited to propose experiments on Russian volunteers undergoing simulation exercises for the Mars exploration project.

Past collaboration included Ma-laysia’s first satellite TiungSat launched by a Russian rocket, which had opened the door for the launch of RazakSat next year. In defence aviation, Malaysia had purchased Russia’s MiG29 fighter jets in 1994 and the Sukhoi jets in 2003.

“Your Angkasawan will create history for Malaysia and his achievement will be the national pride and install Malaysia as a member of the Space Club.

“To appreciate this, you cannot confine yourself to your kampung. Malaysians have gone places and will go places, even to space,” said the diplomat who speaks fluent Bahasa Indonesia.

[ekompute]

Originally Posted by nazrey

Russian envoy confirms that Malaysian is not a ‘mere passenger’
By JANE RITIKOS Thursday October 4, 2007
TheStar

For an RM3.4 billion deal, I will also confirm that our Malaysian is not a "mere passenger". If you like, I can call him the Commander of the spaceship even!

But truth be said, our Malaysian is an angkasawan or astronaut because the definition of "astronaut" is anyone who reaches 100 kilometers above the ground, i.e. two thirds the distance from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka, or a round trip from KL to Seremban and back.

I guess the confusion arises because most people think of angkasawan as the pilot of a space shuttle but I think a corollary could be the word "udarawan", but not juruterbang, for air travel.

Albert II would have said, "What's the big deal? I went to space on 14 June 1949." By the way, Albert II was the first monkey angkasawan to go to space.

For more of my views on our first Malaysian space mission, see http://ensiklopedia-malaysia.jbdirec...szaphar_Shukor

[nazrey]

M'sian Astronaut Trainees Receive Cosmonaut Credentials
From Abdul Rahman Ahmad

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha and Capt Dr Faiz Khaleed, Malaysia's first astronaut trainees, have received their credentials as full-fledged angkasawan (cosmonauts) from Roskosmos, Russia's federal space agency.More

[meghnarmajhi]

Congrats, Malaysia... great news.

[baqthier]

I think James Foong was being sarcastic lah from his 'tone'. Of course we're not poor. From what I read its free and the transaction of the sukhoi was made in exchange of palm oil. As for you Sheikh Muzafar, all the best! Space Sheikh!

[travellator]

The Russian Soyuz TMA-11 space ship that will carry new crew to the international space station is transported to the launch pad at the Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Monday, Oct 8, 2007. The rocket is scheduled to blast off on Wednesday, Oct 10.

Astronauts Set to Head to Space Station

By MANSUR MIROVALEV

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) — A crew that includes Malaysia's first astronaut and an American who will become the first woman to command the international space station prepared Monday for blastoff later this week.

The Soyuz-FG rocket is scheduled to blast off from the Central Asian steppe on Wednesday night to take Malaysia's Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, Peggy Whitson of Beaconsfield, Iowa, and Russian Yuri Malenchenko into orbit.

During his 12-day space trip, Shukor is to study of the effects of microgravity and space radiation on cells and microbes, as well as experiments with proteins for a potential HIV vaccine.

The rocket — adorned with a Malaysian flag and coat of arms and carrying a Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft — was moved Monday to the launch pad from its assembly site at the Baikonur cosmodrome, which Russia rents from Kazakhstan.

"It's too exciting to be cold," said Shankini Dovaisingam, a Malaysian aerospace engineer observing the final preparations. "It's amazing to see the Malaysian flag on a Soyuz spaceship."

The mission coincides with the last days of Ramadan, the holy month when Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, but Malaysian clerics decreed that Shukor will be excused from fasting while in space.

Shukor's religion also requires that he face Mecca for prayer but clerics decided that the exact location matters only for the beginning of the prayer ritual.

Shukor, 35, will bring a "symbolic" load of Malaysian food to the space station, said Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh, a program director for the Malaysian space program.

The $25 million agreement for a Malaysian astronaut to fly to space was negotiated in 2003 along with a $900 million deal for Malaysia to buy 18 Russian fighter jets.

Shukor is to return to Earth on Oct. 21 with two Russian members of the current space station crew.

Whitson and Malenchenko will stay on as the station's new crew, and will be joined in October by U.S. astronaut Daniel Tani, who is arriving with the shuttle Discovery. Tani will replace fellow American Clayton Anderson, who has been at the station since June.

[haze]

caya la. lain kali nak try masuk jadi calon. ade yg nak join ??

[haze]

October 09, 2007 19:38 PM

How Malaysia Picks Its First Angkasawan


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Below is the chronology of events leading to the blast off of Malaysia's first angkasawan (cosmonaut) into space:

Aug 5 2003: Malaysia signed a contract to procure 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets from Russia under a package deal worth about US$900 million. The aircraft are to be delivered in stages between June 2006 and end of 2007. The payment for the aircraft will be stretched until 2009. In return, Russia will purchase Malaysia's palm oil, provide transfer of space technology, and train a Malaysian to become Malaysia's first angkasawan.

Oct 2003: Over 11,000 applicants registered online to become Malaysia's first angkasawan. Application requirements included being above 21 years old, a degree holder or a professional pilot.

Aug 27-Sept 3 2005: 894 candidates shortlisted but only 435 took part in the fitness test starting with a 3.5km run which must be completed within 20 minutes. 199 made it through. Of the figure, 194 underwent the basic medical examination based on National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Programme Criteria. 59 passed.

Sept 25-30 2005: First aeromedical test which included blood, nose and ear checks, X-ray, and electrocardiogram (ECG). 59 were tested, 27 passed.

Jan 16-21 2006: Second aeromedical test, including bone, air passage and centrifuge tests. 27 were tested, 18 passed.

Jan 16-24 2006: Overall assessment based on performance in 3.5km run and second aeromedical test as well as psychiatric, psychology, land and sea survival and technical competence. 10 were tested, 8 passed.

Jan 25-26 2006: Medical examination (including CT Scan, endoscopy and blood analysis). 10 were tested, 8 passed.

Feb 9 2006: Eight qualified candidates interviewed by selection panel at Shangri-La Hotel, Putrajaya. Overall assessment based on performance in all the events covering all aspects in communication, character, forwardness and determination.

Four were selected to be sent to Moscow for further medical examination:

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, 34, orthopaedic surgeon;

Vanajah Siva, 35, senior quality engineer;

Dr Faiz Khaleed, 26, Armed Forces dental surgeon; and

Mohammed Faiz Kamaludin, 34, Malaysia Airlines pilot

March 2006: The four candidates underwent medical examination in Russia including neurology (brain) and body adaptation in microgravity environment.

Sept 4 2006: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi named Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha and Dr Faiz Khaleed as the final two candidates at the KL International Airport.

Sept 2006-Sept 2007: The two were sent to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Moscow and then to NASA in Houston, Texas, for training. One will be selected to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) while the other is his back-up.

Sept 24 2007: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar and Dr Faiz Khaleed passed the test and recognised as cosmonauts.

Oct 9 2007: Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis announced in Baikonur that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar will be the first Malaysian angkasawan to blast off to the ISS from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Oct 10 2007: Dr Sheikh Muszaphar together with a Russian and an American cosmonauts to blast off to the ISS.

-- BERNAMA

[AceN]

Tomorrow is the D-Day !! Hope everything will go on track & success !! This one is the best prize for Malaysian for this year's Ramadhan !

[OshHisham]

Originally Posted by AceN

Tomorrow is the D-Day !! Hope everything will go on track & success !! This one is the best prize for Malaysian for this year's Ramadhan !

huh, don't pretend like a PEACE KEEPER here, maybe other malaysian doesn't know you...but i know who you are!!