School: Seeing stars

WHAT'S the colour of stars? What happens to vomit in space? Can I be an astronaut when I grow up?

Ryan Fahd

Teuku Meurah Irfan

Natasha

These were some of the questions posed to Malaysia's first astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor by a group of preschool children from Tadika Taman Pendidikan Raihan Petaling Jaya.

The queries were included with pictures in a colourful booklet that the children made as part of their activities this year, in line with their theme of learning - space.

This booklet was presented to the parents of the angkasawan to be taken to their son in Russia before his launch.

Pupils spoke candidly on their views about space; original thinking and imagination being encouraged at the school.
Teuku Meurah Irfan Teuku Meurah Indra Mahlia, 6, wants to be an astronaut so he can see the stars up close and meet aliens.

Wan Khadijah Ahmad Shriffuddin, 4, says she would like to see Saturn and shooting stars, as well as aliens.

"There are aliens on the moon - I saw them in a book," she adds.

Natasha Abdul Rahman, 4, thinks it's possible to reach the sun but does not think there are aliens in space.

Ryan Fahd Huesen Zamanhuri, 6, who is more interested in seeing the planets, states that "Mecury and Venus don't have moons but the other planets do".

Ryhan Elmyra Huesen Zamanhuri, 4, who posed the question "what's the colour of stars?" in the booklet, thinks they are yellow and small.

"I would like to be an astronaut because I want to see what space is like," she says. Which sums up her friends' desire for venturing into space.