Astronaut talks about marriage

THE nation’s Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor was bombarded with questions about his work and personal life during a visit to SMK Seberang Jaya in Butterworth recently.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar met more than 100 students and talked about his experience onboard the International Space Station.

When one student asked why an Angkasawan couldn’t get married, he replied, “It is not that I have fertility problems but I have signed a two-year contract with the Government to remain single.

“But I do intend to get married in 2009,” he said to the laughing crowd.

When pressed further, he said he had been dating someone for five years.

Among the questions asked was how he went to the bathroom in outer space, whether he missed his family and his future plans after completing his space mission.

One student requested and re-ceived a hug from Dr Sheikh Mus-zaphar.

Form Four student Nurfitrah Rosman said she was excited to have the opportunity to meet Dr Sheikh Muszaphar.

“I have seen him on television. He is very inspiring with his spee-ches,” she said.

Prefect S. Visshnubathy, 15, said it was good for the students to hear all about the space mission from the nation’s Angkasawan.

Schoolteacher Hong Mee Tin said she was pleasantly surprised by Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s humble and approachable nature.

“I have bought his late brother Sheikh Mustapha Shukor Al-Masrie’s book, Reaching for the Stars for my three-year-old son. My son is still too young to enjoy the book and I’m keeping it for him when he grows up,” she said.