Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor#Spaceflight and religion
{{Short description|Malaysian medical officer and spaceflight participant (born 1972)}}
{{Expand Malay|Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor|date=April 2016}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Malay name|Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie|Sheikh Mustapha}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Yang Berbahagia Dato'
| image = Muszaphar shukor.jpg
| caption = Sheikh in 2007
| birth_name = Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie bin Sheikh Mustapha
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1972|07|27}}
| birth_place = Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| education = Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MBBS)
| occupation = {{hlist|Orthopedic medical officer|model}}
| years_active = 1998–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Halina Mohd Yunos|2010}}
| children = 7
| website = {{URL|https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/spaceflight-participant-sheikh-muszaphar-shukor|nasa.gov}}
| module = {{Infobox astronaut|child=yes
| type = ANGKASA astronaut
| selection = 2006 Angkasawan program
| space_time = 10d 20h 14m
| missions = Soyuz TMA-11/Soyuz TMA-10
| insignia = 40px
}}
}}
Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie bin Sheikh Mustapha (born 27 July 1972){{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sheikh-Muszaphar-Shukor|title=Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor | Spaceflight, Astronaut, Research | Britannica|website=www.britannica.com}} is a Malaysian doctor.{{cite web|title=Spaceflight Participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor|url=https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/spaceflight-participant-sheikh-muszaphar-shukor/|publisher=NASA|date=|access-date=7 March 2024}} He launched to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-11 with the Expedition 16 crew on 10 October 2007.{{cite news|title=Malaysian Astronaut Won't Ignore Faith|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-09-20-807374503_x.htm|publisher=The Associated Press / USA Today|author=The Associated Press|date=20 September 2007|access-date=4 October 2007}}{{cite news|title=Saudi prince says Islam proud of Malaysia spaceman|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSL3034275220070930|publisher=Reuters|author=Andrew Hammond|date=30 September 2007|access-date=4 October 2007}} Sheikh Muszaphar flew under an agreement with Russia through the Angkasawan program, and returned to Earth on 21 October 2007, aboard Soyuz TMA-10 with the Expedition 15 crew members, Fyodor Yurchikhin and Oleg Kotov.{{cite news|title=First Malaysian in space to observe Ramadan later|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUKNOA43625320070924|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216155804/http://uk.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUKNOA43625320070924|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 December 2012|publisher=Reuters|author=Chris Baldwin|date=24 September 2007|access-date=4 October 2007}}{{cite web|title=NASA Holds Briefing With First Female Station Commander and Crew|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/jul/HQ_M07087_ISS_briefing.html|publisher=NASA|author=NASA|author-link=NASA|date=17 July 2007|access-date=23 July 2007}}
Career
Sheikh Muszaphar was born in Kuala Lumpur, the son of Sheikh Mustapha. He is of Malay, Minangkabau{{citation|title=Astronot Malaysia Itu Ternyata Urang Awak|url=https://techno.okezone.com/read/2007/12/15/56/68525/astronot-malaysia-itu-ternyata-urang-awak|work=okezone|language=Indonesian|date=15 December 2007}} and Arab descent. He attended high school at Maktab Rendah Sains MARA in Muar. He then earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree from Kasturba Medical College, an affiliated college of Manipal University, in Manipal, India.{{Cite web|title=Angkasawan lands in UKM|url=http://www.ukm.my/english/News/berita_angkasawan.html|publisher=Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia|author=Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia|year=2007|access-date=7 October 2007|archive-date=22 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822153042/http://www.ukm.my/english/News/berita_angkasawan.html}} Sheikh Muszaphar previously worked as an orthopaedic medical officer (MO) but never completed his specialisation.{{cite news|title=First Malaysian in space to observe Ramadan later|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/10/10/russia.space.ap/index.html|publisher=CNN|year=2007|access-date=10 October 2007|archive-date=12 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012032949/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/10/10/russia.space.ap/index.html}} 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|title=Malaysia's first astronaut turns entrepreneur|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/malaysias-first-astronaut-turns-entrepreneur|publisher=TNP|author=Nurul Asyikin Yusoff|date=3 August 2016|access-date=16 March 2017}}{{Cite web|title=Part-time model is Malaysia's first astronaut|url=http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Part-time_model_is_Malaysias_first_astronaut_999.html|publisher=SpaceDaily|author=SpaceDaily|year=2007|access-date=7 October 2007}}{{Cite web|title=Malaysians take last tests before blast off into space|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hOWGR1Z3Eg-DUUtjvCZTcoyRyjqw|publisher=AFP|author=AFP|year=2007|access-date=7 October 2007|archive-date=12 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012025343/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hOWGR1Z3Eg-DUUtjvCZTcoyRyjqw|url-status=dead}}
Angkasawan program
{{main|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-30 MKM 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|title=Malaysia announces first astronaut|url=http://www.spacedaily.com/2006/060904064124.bkjsh0su.html|publisher=Agence France-Presse|author=Space Daily|year=2007|access-date=7 October 2007}} Following the final medical tests and training examinations, on 17 September, it was announced that Sheikh Muszaphar would be flying on the Soyuz TMA-11 mission.{{Cite web|title=First Malaysian Cosmonaut|url=http://www.wifr.com/webnews/headlines/9853481.html|publisher=WIFR – Gray Television Group|author=WIFR – Gray Television Group|year=2007|access-date=4 October 2007|archive-date=11 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011015724/http://www.wifr.com/webnews/headlines/9853481.html }}
During a NASA news conference with the Expedition 16 crew on 23 July 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 news|title=Malaysia astronaut set to launch|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7036933.stm|work=BBC News|author=BBC News|date=10 October 2007|access-date=10 October 2007}}
=Terminology=
Flying as a guest of the Russian government,{{Cite web|title=Space fever grips Malaysia as launch nears|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/304710/1/.html|publisher=Channel News Asia|author=Channel News Asia|year=2007|access-date=13 October 2007|archive-date=11 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011033534/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/304710/1/.html|url-status=dead}} 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|title=NASA TV Coverage Set for Space Station Crew Exchange|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/sep/HQ_M07122_Exp_15_and_16_crew_exchange_prt.htm|publisher=NASA|author=NASA|year=2007|access-date=10 October 2007}}{{Cite web|title=Russian tycoon-explorer may go into space|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna20575522|publisher=NBC News|author=MSNBC|year=2007|access-date=10 October 2007}}{{Cite web|title=Biography of Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor in Russian Federal Space Agency Website|url=http://www.federalspace.ru/Member.asp?screwID=40|publisher=Russian Federal Space Agency|author=Russian Federal Space Agency|year=2007|access-date=12 October 2007|archive-date=27 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027161302/http://www.federalspace.ru/Member.asp?screwID=40 }}
Speaking to Malaysian media outlets, Alexander Karchava, the Russian ambassador to Malaysia, stated that Sheikh Muszaphar is a "fully-fledged cosmonaut".{{Cite web|title=Russian envoy confirms that Malaysian is not a 'mere passenger'|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/4/nation/19072942&sec=nation|publisher=TheStar|author=theStar|year=2007|access-date=4 October 2007}} 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|title=Malaysian a full-fledged cosmonaut, says ex-astronaut|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/11/nation/19142225&sec=nation|publisher=TheStar|author=theStar|year=2007|access-date=11 October 2007|archive-date=13 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013073233/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F10%2F11%2Fnation%2F19142225&sec=nation|url-status=dead}}
Spaceflight
File:Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor in the Destiny (ISS module).jpg.]]
Soyuz TMA-11 carrying Yuri Malenchenko, Peggy Whitson and Sheikh Muszaphar successfully launched at 13:22 UTC, Wednesday, 10 October 2007.{{Cite web|title=Soyuz TMA-11 launches carrying Expedition 16|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5250|publisher=NASA Spaceflight.com|author=Sergi Manstov|year=2007|access-date=10 October 2007|archive-date=12 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012015916/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5250 }}{{Cite web|title=First Malaysian in space|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/10/nation/20071010211910&sec=nation|publisher=Star Publications (Malaysia)|author=Jane Ritikos|year=2007|access-date=10 October 2007|archive-date=11 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011185202/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F10%2F10%2Fnation%2F20071010211910&sec=nation|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Russian rocket launches first Malaysian into space|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL1016094020071010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121210205405/http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL1016094020071010|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 December 2012|publisher=Reuters|author=Shavkat Rakhmatullayev|date=10 October 2007|access-date=10 October 2007}}
After 10 days in space, Sheikh Muszaphar boarded Soyuz TMA-10 for his return. TMA-10 undocked from the ISS at 07:14 UTC on 21 October, and deorbit occurred at 09:47. During atmospheric re-entry, the spacecraft transitioned to a ballistic reentry, resulting in it landing west of Arkalyk, approximately {{convert|340|km|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of the intended Kazakhstan landing site.{{Cite web|title=Soyuz capsule makes 'ballistic' descent to Earth|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp15/071021landing.html|publisher=CBS News – Spaceflight Now|author=William Harwood|year=2007|access-date=21 October 2007}} The trajectory was reported by the crew as soon as they came out of the communications blackout caused by plasma surrounding the spacecraft. A ballistic trajectory is a backup re-entry mode that takes over if something fails during normal re-entry. A Commission of Inquiry determined that the ballistic re-entry was caused by damage to a cable in the spacecraft's control panel, which connected the control panel with the Soyuz descent equipment.{{Cite web|title=Soyuz TMA-10 ballistic landing cause determined|url=http://ruspace.blogspot.com/2008/01/soyuz-tma-10-ballistic-landing-cause.html|date=30 January 2008|access-date=31 March 2008}}{{Unreliable source|reason=Per WP:UCG|date=April 2024}} Landing occurred at 10:36 GMT, the duration of his flight is 10d 20h 14m.{{Cite web|title=Soyuz Craft Lands Safely in Kazakhstan|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=3756666|publisher=ABC News|agency=Associated Press|year=2007|access-date=21 October 2007|archive-date=8 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608185954/http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=3756666|url-status=dead}}
Space experiments
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.{{Cite web|title=Mission in space|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/11/nation/19136025&sec=nation|publisher=TheStar|author=theStar|year=2007|access-date=13 October 2007}}
Spaceflight 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|title=Day in the Life|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/crew/exp7/luletters/lu_letter9.html|publisher=NASA|author=NASA|year=2004|access-date=7 October 2007|archive-date=6 September 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030906153525/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/crew/exp7/luletters/lu_letter9.html|url-status=dead}} so the issues of fasting during Ramadan are also addressed. 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 13 October 2007 to mark the end of Ramadan.{{cite news|title=Astronaut plans first Eid party in space|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL0910891120071010|work=Reuters|publisher=Reuters|date=10 October 2007|access-date=10 October 2007}}
Legacy
In honour of Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor being the first Malaysian sent into space, the 2008 ASEAN University Games organising committee had chosen an astronaut as the games mascot, which is named A1 Angkasawan.{{Cite web|url=http://bernamamrem.com/viewnt.php?idm=1899|title=:: BERNAMA MREM Press Release & Asianet::|website=bernamamrem.com}}
Honours
=Honours of Malaysia=
- {{Flag|Negeri Sembilan}} :
- 50px Knight Companion of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (DSNS) - Dato' (2008){{Cite news|title=Angkasawan to be conferred Datukship|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2008/07/18/angkasawan-to-be-conferred-datukship/|work=The Star Online|author=C.S. Nathan|date=18 July 2008|access-date=19 January 2019}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor}}
- [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/international/english/muszaphar_sheikh.htm Spacefacts biography of Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071012014518/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2006%2F11%2F15%2Fnation%2F20061115181546&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]
- [http://vg05.met.vgwort.de/na/7e4908181db7477f94428b8b8a62b3a7?l=http://nils-fischer.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/za-isim-wr-islam-2008.pdf Nils Fischer "Islamic religious practice in outer space." ISIM review (2008) 22: 39.]
{{Malaysian space program}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:People from Kuala Lumpur
Category:Malaysian people of Arab descent
Category:Malaysian people of Malay descent
Category:Malaysian people of Minangkabau descent
Category:Manipal Academy of Higher Education alumni
Category:MARA Junior Science College alumni