Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar's Family Sad Over "RM1.2 Million" Newspaper Report

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The family of astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha is sad and disappointed over a newspaper report that he has amassed RM1.2 million from giving talks since last year.

His brother Sheikh Taufik Shukor Al Masrie said the family regretted that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar's untiring efforts to share his aerospace experience with the young generation was manipulated by certain people.

"We did not ask for any credit be given to him, just sad that he had been treated this way," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview here Monday.

Sheikh Taufik described the report as a "grave tragedy" as it was reported by a newspaper belonging to an opposition party that claimed to uphold Islam.

"They do not give a hoot to our aerospace venture, unlike other Muslim countries that were proud of his (Dr Sheikh Muszaphar) achievement. I do not understand why they want to destroy our future."

Sheikh Taufik said the claim that his brother received RM8,000 per hour for giving talks was not true at all.

He did not deny that many people had acted as middlemen or third parties to arrange for the astronaut to deliver talks or just to motivate people.

"Schools normally come directly to me or my brother and no money is involved. However, for non-governmental organisations and the private sector, there are many middlemen who manipulate the situation."This can give rise to things that may lead to such claims," he said when commenting when a report by an opposition newspaper that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar charged RM8,000 per hour for talks.

The report said the astronaut had amassed RM1.2 million from 150 corporations since his return from the International Space Station (ISS) in Oct last year.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar on Sunday denied that he had had asked for specific amounts to deliver talks on his aerospace experience.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili had said Dr Sheikh Muszaphar and Major Dr Faiz Khaleed were contracted to the ministry until Dec 31 and thus could not charge for giving talks.

His deputy Fadillah Yusof was reported as saying the ministry would investigate the report.

Sheikh Taufik said he had wanted to reply to the report but was advised against it as it would be a waste of time.

"Their job is to pit one person against another and to rundown the government," he added.

On Dr Sheikh Muszaphar's reaction, he said although the astronaut was disappointed, it was nothing compared to what he had to go through before becoming an astronaut."My brother was calm and said the truth will prevail."

He said Dr Sheikh Muszaphar received many invitations but were careful as he did not want to be seen as a celebrity but an educator.

Meanwhile, his father Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Sheikh Shukor denied those who attended his talks were forced to buy the book "My Journey To Space" that related his experience during training and when at the ISS.

"I hope the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry will defend my son now that he can be considered a son of the state," he added.

-- BERNAMA

No Complaints Received On Dr Sheikh Muszaphar

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Science, Techonology and Innovation (MOSTI) has not received any official complaints regarding an allegation by a local daily that national astronaut, Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, charged RM8,000 an hour to give a lecture.

Its minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said if the allegations were true, the complainant could make an official complaint to the ministry.

"So far we have not received any official complaints. If the newspaper's allegations are true then the complainant can file an official complaint and we will go through the matter to see if it is against the contract (the governmnet has with him)," he said when met after the National Innovation Awards ceremony, here today.

Ongkili explained that the government's contracts with national astronauts Dr Sheikh Muszaphar and Major Dr. Faiz Khaleed will expire on Dec 31.

He said based on the contract signed by the astronauts and the ministry, they must take part in all promotional programmes arranged by the ministry and its agencies.

They are also prohibited from receiving any rewards other than those from the ministry, he said.

When asked if the contracts of both astronauts would be renewed, Ongkili said they proposed to renew Dr Faiz's contract to prepare for the future mission, while they have not received an application from Dr Sheikh Muszaphar to renew his contract.

-- BERNAMA

Angkasawan Accepted Contributions But Never Demanded A Single Cent

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- The nation's first astronaut has admitted to accepting contributions when giving talks.However, Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha denies allegations he had received, among others, RM8,000 an hour for giving talks.


He said it was the norm for him to give talks in schools for free."I hope we can resolve this unfortunate incident (allegations) because its negative impact would affect my ability to continue giving talks to schools in the country.


"(Nevertheless) I have spoken to Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Fadilah Yusof and given a detailed explanation...and he was happy and satisfied with my explanation," he added.


Dr Sheikh Muszaphar was speaking to reporters after flagging off and taking part in the Sixth Batik Fun Walk 2008 here, Sunday.


Meanwhile, Penyayang chairman Nori Abdullah, who organised the walk, was exuberant with the number of participants taking part in the event, especially since some of the proceeds would be donated to the Penyayang Pesakit Kanser charity.


"I am happy with the number of participants taking part this year, which is about 1,200. This is double the number of participants we had last year."It is also heartening to know that these participants will help make life a little easier for cancer patients," she said.


Her husband, Rembau Member of Parliament Khairy Jamaluddin, showed his support for his wife's programme in being a participant in the event.


-- BERNAMA

Enzyme Tested In Space By Malaysian Astronaut Gets US Patent

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- The Geobacillus Zalihae enzyme derived from protein crystallisation that was tested in space by Malaysian astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor last year has received a patent in the United States.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the rights for the patent for the enzyme, named after researcher Prof Raja Noor Zaliha Raja Abdul Rahman, were also filed in Malaysia, Europe and Japan.

"Four more items of research conducted in space on the same expedition, and involving cells and microbes, are in the final process of development and are expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year," Ongkili told reporters after launching a workshop on Microgravity Science here Tuesday.

The objective of the two-day workshop, which gathered 150 local and foreign participants, including 20 who presented research papers, was to study and discuss the experiments carried out by Dr Sheikh Muszaphar.

Meanwhile, Raja Noor Zaliha, of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), said the enzyme could be used for industrial purposes like in the production of cleansers, pharmaceutical products and food supplements.

"This enzyme can generate income and, if we produce this enzyme, it can provide job opportunities to graduates majoring in biotechnology.

"We can also sell the technology to other countries as the market potential for the enzyme is really big," she said.

She said the research on protein carried out in space was important as bigger protein crystals could be formed there, twice the amount that could be produced on earth.

"A bigger crystal is needed to view the structure of protein, how it acts and how it can be utilised fully," she said.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar went into space in a Russian Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft on Oct 10 last year, conducted the experiments in the International Space Station (ISS) and returned to earth in a Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft on Oct 21.

-- BERNAMA

Angkasawan says space programme should concentrate on education

KUANTAN: The country’s space programme should focus on education and ensure sound basic knowledge in mathematics and science subjects at the earliest age possible, Angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor said.

He added that there was more to the space programme than just sending people into space.

“It is about how to get the technology, acquiring the knowledge and fuelling the interest and imagination of the young.

“It is about moulding a strong grassroots who have a good grasp of mathematics and science,” he said after delivering a talk to students at Shahputra College here recently.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar agreed that the country should postpone any plans to send another Malaysian to space and, instead, concentrate on having a more objective plan that would define the nation’s direction to develop its space programme.

He urged the Government, especially the Education and Science, Technology and Innovation ministries, to play a bigger role including creating job opportunities for those with a background in aeronautical engineering.

“There are about 450 aeronautical engineers in the country but only 10% are working as aeronautical engineers. The rest are working in other lines,” he said.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar cited the Korean government as an example, saying that the country had sent an astronaut much later than Malaysia but already had a five-plan space programme.

“The pace is going very slowly for Malaysia. I get frustrated at times,” he said.

However, the 35-year-old orthopaedic surgeon would not be alone in his crusade to get the nation interested in space, science and mathematics as he planned to form an association with 59 other astronaut candidates who had vied to become the first Malaysian to be sent to space.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said it would be called the Angkasawan Association of Malaysia and members would chip in to deliver talks and conduct activities that would motivate youngsters.

On the results of experiments carried out in space, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor said the findings were expected to be released early next month at a gathering that would attended by local and international scientists.

He described the findings as promising.

Earlier in his talks, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said that if the Government wanted to send another astronaut to space, it should be something more challenging than what he had done.

“They could send a woman astronaut, do a space walk or stay for a longer duration,” he said.

When fielding questions from the audience, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said there were two things he missed most when he was in space - a shower and the smell of nature.

The good-looking angkasawan added that he still had two dreams to fulfil - to be a pilot by 2013 and to work with children in Africa.

Starstruck with Angkasawan

DESPITE having microphones at the audience area, many female students preferred to share Angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor’s microphone on stage.

Some were clearly nervous and starstruck with the country’s first astronaut when they posed their questions at the Q&A session after his talk attended by schools from all over the state at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) yesterday.

One after another, they asked him about his life in space. When a girl asked him why an astronaut must not have surgical scars or teeth filling, he answered that this was because surgical stitches may open up and teeth filling may fall off in space where there was zero gravity.

In his talk earlier, he said he had wanted to go to space since the age of 10 and his dream became a reality 25 years later.

“This is proof that dreams do come true if you just believe in yourself and work towards it. I was short listed from more than 11,000 hopefuls,” he said, adding that his next aim was to become a pilot by 2013.

He said for many years, he had felt a void in his soul, which he tried to fill by doing international charity work.
“I finally found my soul in space. I didn’t want to come back,” he said.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar also showed a slideshow followed by a video, which he took on board Russia’s Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft.

The video included clips of him getting into his sleeping bag, performing his prayers, cleaning his teeth, shampooing his hair and spinning the gasing which only stopped moving after two days.

“It’s not only about physical strength, we need to be strong mentally as well,” he added.

He said when he was preparing for the trip to the International Space Station on Oct 10, last year, he got rid of his fear of heights by doing regular bungee jumping.

During the selection process, the candidates had to stay in Pulau Lumut for three days without food and sleep to test their endurance, he said.

Present were USM vice chancellor Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak and Penang Port Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Ibni Hajar.

Keeping cervical cancer in check

KUALA LUMPUR: A non-governmental organisation has been formed to reduce the high incidence of cervical cancer in Malaysia. Called Cervical Cancer Awareness Association (Cares) and located at Primanora Medical Centre, it will provide screening and raise awareness among women.

Cares ambassador and Malaysia's first angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor said: "After doing cancer research through the angkasawan programme, my perspective about cancer has changed. That was one of the reasons I decided to support Cares' efforts."

Cervical cancer is the second leading cancer after breast cancer, with 2,000 to 3,000 cases detected yearly.

Medical adviser for Cares, Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar, said unlike other cancers, cervical cancer could be prevented.
As part of its programme, a public forum will be held on Aug 10 at Boulevard Hotel, Mid Valley Megamall.

It's now Datuk Muszaphar

KUALA PILAH: Malaysia's first astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor was conferred a Datukship here yesterday.

The 36-year-old was conferred the Darjah Dato Setia Negeri Sembilan which carries the title "Datuk" in conjunction with the 86th birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

"I accept the award with humility and gratitude. With this, I will forge closer ties with the state government to make a name for Negri Sembilan," said Sheikh Muszaphar after the investiture ceremony at Istana Besar Seri Menanti.

"I promise to do more for the people of Negri Sembilan. I am still the same person, and nothing excites me more than seeing the smiles on five-year-olds who aspire to be astronauts.

" He added that he had travelled to over 200 schools and universities in the country to give motivational talks.

Sheikh Muszaphar, who was accompanied by his fiancee, Dr Halina Yunos, was bestowed the title along with 18 others, including Genting Berhad strategic investments and corporate affairs head Justin Leong Ming Loong.

Three other recipients were State Secretary Datuk Norzam Mohd Nor, State Health, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Ismail Taib and State Tourism, Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Mohammad Razi Kail.

Badminton legend Ng Boon Bee, 70, who helped Malaysia win the Thomas Cup in 1967, received the Darjah Dato' Paduka Tuanku Ja'afar which carries the title "Datuk", along with 22 other recipients.

"I am very honoured and happy to be given this recognition. "This will be one of my best memories. "I thank the state government, especially Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who has always recognised the contribution of the country's athletes."

Ng, from Padang Remis, Perak, said he hoped the recognition would motivate other sportsmen to continue to break records and excel in their respective sports.

Twenty others were awarded the Darjah Setia Negeri Sembilan (DNS), including Seremban police chief Assistant Commissioner Saiful Azly Kamaruddin, Kuala Pilah district officer Asis Ujang, Port Dickson district officer Johani Hassan and State Works Department director Dr Roslan Md Taha.

The Pingat Pekerti Terpilih (PPT), went to 19 recipients while the Jaksa Pendamai (JP) was awarded to 11 others.

Aim high, urges space pioneer

LIKE cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin who was the first human to travel into space and astronaut Neil Armstrong who was the first man to walk on the moon, angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor wants to fuel the imagination of the nation.

Malaysia’s first angkasawan said his mission was not merely to travel into space but to come home and inspire the young generation.

“My mission is also to change the mindset of Malaysians – especially the young. I believe that one day, we can even launch our own rocket into space.

“I have wanted to be an angkasawan since I was 10 years old. Along the way, I have been a model, doctor and restaurant owner. It took me 25 years to fulfil my dreams but I did it.

“Do not be afraid to try new things. Because I believe in myself, I know that no matter which field I am in, I will succeed.

“Nothing is out of reach if you believe in yourself. Write down your dreams on posters and put it up in your room.

“Read it out loud every day and it will inspire you to strive towards success,” he said, adding that it was a fallacy to say that women were less capable than men.

“My Russian Soyuz 15-S mission crew members were Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malechencko and American Peggy Whitson. Peggy is the International Space Station (ISS) commander and she is very capable.

“In fact, I think women are mentally stronger than men,” he said during the closing of the Brain Awareness Week (BAW) 2008 at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Dewan Budaya recently.

He was delivering a talk on ‘Brain in Space: Our New Frontier’.

Sharing his space experience with more than 500 students from all over the country, he said he had always insisted on being called an angkasawan even when undergoing training in Russia.

“In Russia, they are called cosmonauts and in America, they are astronauts. I think as a Malaysian, the correct term is angkasawan. We must be proud of our culture and language.

“It was very difficult for me to learn the Russian language so everywhere I went, I would say ‘Ya La Blu Tibia’ (‘I love you’ in Russian) to everyone. They really appreciated me trying to learn their language,” he said, adding that it was not easy to become an angkasawan.

“I went through so many physical and mental tests. I even had to answer a 1,000-question personality evaluation that included questions like ‘Do you like to sleep with one or two pillows?’

“Everything I said and did was evaluated by a team of psychiatrists to make sure that I was mentally fit for the mission.

“I had always been afraid of heights. I went bungee jumping every now and then to get over my fear,” he said.

Among the questions asked were whether Dr Sheikh Muszaphar played football in space and how space has changed his perception of life.

“Unfortunately, I did not play football in space – I would have loved to though. I did however play the gasing in space and because there was no gravity, it spun for more than a day. I actually got tired of waiting for it to stop,” he said.

He added that the experience in space taught him to look at the “bigger picture”.

“Nowadays, I don’t care what is being said about me. I worry more about trying to make the world a better place,” he said.

Also present was USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dzulkifli Abdul Razak.

Blind girl inspired by Angkasawan

ALL these years, partially blind student Alfa Nur Aini Erman Afandi, 17, thought that the blind could never aspire to be enjoy adventures in space as astronauts.

But after attending a motivational talk by Malaysia’s Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, she realised that everything is possible, even for physically challenged people to go to space one day.
The St George’s Girls School Form Five student said Dr Sheikh Muszaphar had inspired the handicapped and now she was able to imagine being an astronaut in outer space.

“I can now imagine what it is like inside the International Space Station,'' she said.

Alfa Nur Aini said that after hearing the inspiring talk given by Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, she was now determined to do well in her forthcoming SPM examination.

“Who knows, one day I may be one of those going up into space,” she added.

Alfa Nur Aini was among those who attended the talk organised by St Nicholas Home in Penang.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar spoke about his space mission and his feelings.

He said the handicapped should not regard their condition as an obstacle to achieving success.

“Being handicapped does not mean that you are not capable of achieving your dreams. The only thing you should remember is that physically challenged people just have to try harder than the rest,” he said.

He later visited the Home’s Wellness Centre, which provided training in massage therapy and reflexology to the visually impaired.

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.

Coretan Angkasawan: Pulang ke Russia setiap 3 bulan

Sheikh Muszaphar perlu selesaikan kajian saintifik, jadi eksperimen untuk lihat kesan tubuh manusia terdedah kepada radiasi dan mikro graviti

SAYA kembali semula ke Russia pada 19 Februari lalu. Bukan untuk meneruskan latihan, tetapi eksperimen saintifik yang masih belum selesai. Tubuh badan saya dijadikan bahan eksperimen oleh saintis Russia, Jepun dan Eropah untuk melihat kesan sampingan apabila tubuh manusia terdedah kepada radiasi dan mikro graviti di angkasa lepas.

Sejak awal lagi, saya bersetuju menjadikan diri sebagai bahan eksperimen demi kebaikan manusia sedunia. Setakat ini, saya tidak mengalami sebarang kesan sampingan. Tubuh saya sudah kembali normal.

Namun pemeriksaan terhadap tubuh ini akan diteruskan setiap tiga bulan selama setahun untuk memastikan segala-gala kembali normal. Bagaimanapun, kesempatan ke Russia membawa kembali pelbagai kenangan manis. Di negara inilah saya bertapa selama setahun untuk berlatih menjadi seorang angkasawan. Bahasa Russia masih segar di ingatan.

Saya tidak menghadapi masalah berkomunikasi dengan mereka. Seolah-olah seperti pulang ke kampung halaman. Saya tinggal di StarCity selama empat hari dan berkesempatan berjumpa kawan lama, cosmonaut termasuk tenaga pengajar Russia yang membimbing saya selama ini demi memastikan saya mencapai impian ke angkasa lepas. Mereka seperti keluarga sendiri.

Saya juga berjumpa krew yang kembali bersama, termasuk cosmonaut Korea Selatan yang akan ke angkasa lepas April ini. Ko San dan So-Yeon, dua rakan karib saya yang jelas menampakkan keghairahan menanti detik sebagai rakyat Korea Selatan pertama ke angkasa lepas.

Saya tersenyum kepada diri sendiri. Inilah perasaan yang saya alami sebelum ini. Saya menghabiskan masa selama empat jam bersama mereka menceritakan pengalaman dan menunjuk ajar mereka. Ini adalah talian persahabatan antara dua negara, Malaysia dan Korea Selatan.

Di StarCity, pelbagai ujian dijalankan termasuk pemeriksaan darah dan kepadatan tulang (bone density). Di angkasa lepas, pelbagai perubahan berlaku terhadap fisiologi tubuh termasuk kardiovaskular, otot dan tulang.

Manusia dicipta untuk hidup di bumi dan apabila manusia menjelajah angkasa lepas, pelbagai perubahan yang agak ekstrim berlaku. Dalam waktu yang singkat, iaitu pada hari ketiga di angkasa lepas, tulang manusia mula menampakkan kesan kerapuhan atau osteopenia. Bayangkan mereka yang tinggal di ISS selama enam bulan. Setakat ini, keputusan pemeriksaan terhadap tubuh saya kelihatan memuaskan. Tidak ada keputusan tidak normal. Syukur alhamdulillah. Ini semua adalah berkat doa rakyat Malaysia.

Apabila kembali ke Malaysia, suasana pilihan raya dapat dirasai. Setiap orang sibuk bercakap mengenai pilihan raya, baik di kedai kopi mahu pun pejabat.

Sejak awal lagi, saya berminat dalam bidang politik dan sering mengikuti perkembangan politik di tanah air walaupun berada di Russia. Namun belum terlintas untuk menceburi bidang politik secara aktif.

Orang sibuk berkempen mengenai pilihan raya, saya pula sibuk berkempen mengenai angkasa lepas. Kepuasan tidak terhingga pada diri ini tercapai apabila melihat senyuman pada anak kecil dan pelajar yang begitu bersemangat untuk menceburkan diri dalam bidang sains dan matematik.

Inilah matlamat dan tanggungjawab saya ketika ini. Tanggungjawab sepanjang hayat. Inilah janjiku untuk negara.

Coretan Angkasawan: Panduan ibadah di ISS diiktiraf dunia Islam

Angkasawan negara bangga terbabit dalam usaha kembalikan keagungan Islam di mata dunia khususnya dalam sains dan astronomi.

PENJELAJAHAN angkasawan ke angkasa lepas bukan saja menarik minat rakyat Malaysia pada 10 Oktober 2007 malah membuka mata umat Islam di seluruh dunia. Walaupun saya adalah orang Islam yang ke-9 berada di angkasa lepas, amat penting bagi saya menekankan bahawa tanggungjawab sebagai umat Islam harus dilakukan tidak kira di mana kita berada sama ada di bumi atau angkasa lepas.

Persoalannya tiada siapa tahu bagaimana ibadah harus dilakukan sama ada berpuasa mahupun bersembahyang. Ini amat penting untuk menjadi panduan kepada bakal astronaut beragama Islam pada masa akan datang. Sekurang-kurangnya mereka boleh merujuk kepada panduan bagaimana ibadah dilakukan di Stesen Angkasa Lepas Antarabangsa (ISS).

Hakikatnya, Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) bertemu dengan ulama seluruh dunia sebelum menghasilkan satu garis panduan mengenai tanggungjawab umat Islam di angkasa lepas. Saya berasa bangga kerana dapat menerajui tanggungjawab ini dengan harapan mengembalikan keagungan Islam di mata dunia khususnya dalam sains dan astronomi. Saya berharap dapat memainkan peranan dalam menyatupadukan umat Islam seluruh dunia untuk mencapai kejayaan lebih gemilang.

Saya telah mendapat jemputan untuk berkongsi pengalaman khususnya dari negara Islam seperti Arab Saudi, selain beberapa negara lain termasuk Amerika Syarikat, Kazakhstan, Britain dan banyak lagi .

Di Amerika Syarikat, saya dijemput oleh Islamic Syurah Council, California pada 8 hingga 12 Mai 2008. Tujuan utama adalah penerimaan anugerah keamanan dari pihak terbabit atas sumbangan Islam dalam bidang sains dan angkasa lepas. Ia adalah satu pengiktirafan yang amat bermakna pada diri ini. Ia membuat saya untuk terus berjuang demi memartabatkan nama Islam ke arah sains dan teknologi.

Di samping itu, saya juga berkesempatan berjumpa dengan komuniti Islam di California, memberi ceramah di masjid di San Jose dan San Diego untuk berkongsi pengalaman dengan harapan untuk menyuntik inspirasi kepada mereka. Saya juga berkesempatan untuk memberi ceramah di California State Universiti kepada 1,000 pelajar yang mengikuti bidang "Islam and its contribution and direction". Amat mengasyikkan apabila lebih separuh daripada pelajar adalah bukan beragama Islam. Ini jelas menunjukkan minda pelajar Amerika Syarikat yang begitu berminat untuk mengikuti perkembangan Islam dengan lebih mendalam. Paling menyeronokkan apabila berpeluang berjumpa dengan kanak-kanak Islam yang begitu bersemangat bertanyakan mengenai kehidupan di angkasa lepas. Ramai di antara mereka yang bercita-cita untuk pergi ke angkasa lepas dan saya juga diajukan pelbagai soalan menarik.

Berjumpa dengan 250 rakyat Malaysia di California adalah pengalaman yang manis di mana kebanyakan daripada mereka adalah pelajar tajaan yang masih meneruskan pengajian mereka di sana. Saya diberi makanan ala Malaysia seperti kari ikan hingga ayam masak kurma. Saya berasa seolah-olah saya berada di negara sendiri.

Saya juga dijemput oleh pihak NASA untuk melawat Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) di Pasadena di mana ia bertanggungjawab atas pelbagai satelit yang dilancarkan untuk mengetahui dengan lebih mendalam mengenai planet. Saya juga didedahkan dengan pembikinan rovers Phoenix yang baru-baru ini telah membuat pendaratan di planet Marikh untuk mengetahui adakah ada kehidupan di planet itu. Amat mengagumkan apabila dapat mempelajari pelbagai teknologi canggih terkini yang dihasilkan oleh NASA.

Secara keseluruhan komuniti Islam di Amerika Syarikat khususnya di California terdiri daripada golongan minoriti pelbagai negara dan kebanyakannya golongan profesional. Islamic Shura Council mewakili komuniti Islam di Amerika Syarikat dan menjalankan pelbagai aktiviti kebajikan dalam membentuk perpaduan di kalangan umat Islam dan saya berasa amat berbangga kerana dapat menyumbangkan tenaga dan ilmu dengan harapan dapat menyemai kepentingan Islam khususnya kepada anak-anak Islam di Amerika Syarikat. Inilah janji saya apabila kembali ke bumi. Tidak ramai di kalangan Islam yang membabitkan diri dalam bidang aeroangkasa. Impian saya untuk mengumpul kesemua sembilan astronaut Islam yang menjelajahi angkasa lepas dan menjelajahi seluruh benua dalam memupuk semangat dan menukar minda umat Islam agar mengembalikan kembali keagungan dan kegemilangan Islam khususnya dalam bidang sains dan teknologi. Banyak lagi usaha yang harus dilakukan untuk mencapai matlamat ini.

Selepas benua Amerika saya juga telah berada di Brunei selama 3 hari dan berkongsi pengalaman bersama pelajar di negara itu. Sungguh menyeronokkan apabila melihat semangat yang ditunjukkan oleh anak kecil yang mempunyai impian tinggi untuk menerokai angkasa lepas. Impian mampu menjadi kenyataan sekiranya seseorang itu berusaha dengan gigih dan yakin dengan kemampuan sendiri dan sentiasa bersikap positif.

Kini saya berada di Sarawak melawat Bandar Miri dan Kuching untuk memberi ceramah kepada lebih 5,000 penduduk Sarawak. Saya bekerjasama dengan pustaka negeri Sarawak dalam memupuk sikap membaca di kalangan pelajar. "Knowledge is power". Kita seharusnya membaca sekurang-kurangnya sebuah buku setiap minggu. Amat penting untuk Malaysia dalam melahirkan modal insan yang berilmu dan berkualiti dalam mengejar impian Wawasan 2020 untuk menjadikan Malaysia sebuah negara yang cemerlang, gemilang dan terbilang.

Misi ke angkasa lepas bukan melancong

SEREMBAN 11 Jun – Angkasawan negara, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha menjelaskan sekali lagi bahawa misinya ke angkasa lepas bukan untuk melancong sebaliknya melakukan uji kaji saintifik.
Menurut beliau, uji kaji yang dilakukan itu begitu penting untuk kegunaan perubatan terutamanya dalam merawat pesakit kanser.

‘‘ Saya ke sana untuk melakukan uji kaji di Stesen Angkasa Antarabangsa (ISS),” kata Sheikh Muszaphar kepada kira-kira 500 pelajar dalam program motivasi di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato’ Haji Mohd. Redza di sini semalam.

Sheikh Muszaphar memberitahu, ketika di angkasa lepas, beliau sempat mencipta sajak dan puisi selain mengenakan pakaian batik.

‘‘Saya juga menjadi umat Islam pertama yang berpuasa dan menyambut Hari Raya di ISS.

‘‘Ini semuanya untuk negara dan Malaysia kini berada setanding dengan negara lain khususnya dalam bidang penerokaan angkasa lepas,” katanya.

Pada program motivasi itu, Sheikh Muszaphar terus menyuntik semangat kepada golongan pelajar agar mengikuti jejak langkahnya menjadi seorang angkasawan pada masa hadapan.

Kata beliau, adalah wajar golongan pelajar meletakkan azam tinggi serta belajar bersungguh-sungguh untuk terus mengisi peluang dalam Program Angkasawan Negara sekali gus mengembangkan minat terhadap aktiviti berkaitan aero angkasa.

‘‘Jika pelajar berminat menjadi seperti saya sebagai angkasawan, saya minta supaya pelajar rajin-rajin belajar dan paling penting kita perlu fokus dalam setiap aktiviti yang dilakukan,” katanya.

Sheikh Muszaphar juga berharap pada masa akan datang lebih ramai wanita terpilih menyertai program tersebut dan diberi peluang untuk menjadi angkasawan negara.

‘‘Saya berharap selepas ini akan ada angkasawan wanita yang berlepas ke ISS.

‘‘Saya juga berharap lebih ramai anak kelahiran Negeri Sembilan turut berjaya meneroka ke angkasa lepas,” tambahnya.

Angkasawan wants more women involved

SEREMBAN, 11/06/2008: Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha hopes more women will be given the opportunity to join the National Space Programme as many have shown keen interest in it.

He said there had been overwhelming interest in the field among women in Asian countries of late, and even South Korea had chosen a woman to complete a mission at the International Space Station (ISS).

"It is important to give them the opportunity to take part in the programme. I am sure they are capable.

"The field should not be confined to men as women are equally competent to complete a mission at the ISS," he said after delivering a motivational talk at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato' Haji Mohd Redza here yesterday, which was attended by 500 students.

Muszaphar said based on his observation from visiting schools and universities nationwide, many students were keen in Science and Mathematics and wanted to be an astronaut.

"Students should aim high and study hard to gain entry into the National Space Programme.

"They should also take part in aerospace activities," he said.

Muszaphar expressed disappointment with certain quarters for painting a negative picture of the space programme saying that it was a waste of money and a "vacation" in space.

The mission to space, he said was to conduct important scientific research in medicine, specifically in cancer research.

"I would like to stress that the mission to space was not a vacation, instead there was extensive research being carried out at the ISS, and the experiences gained there should be shared with all Malaysians."

Delay the lift-off, says angkasawan

PENDANG: Educate the public first on astronomy before pressing for the second angkasawan mission.

Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha said this in response to a Malay daily that suggested the Angkasawan Programme be put on hold for a while and efforts are made to educate the public.

"After coming back from my mission to space, I have been touring around the country to share my experience and knowledge that I have gained," said Sheikh Muszaphar after meeting students at the Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Pendang here yesterday.

Present was Sungai Tiang state assemblywoman Suraya Yaacob.

"And I found that, the young ones were still having difficulties in identifying planets and their general knowledge on space is lacking.

"I believe it would be better for us to use the cost of funding the mission to educate the people, especially the younger generation.

"If we do not have the proper awareness, it would be no point sending another Malay-sian to space. We have to consider the decision to send the second angkasawan carefully as it would involve a large sum of the people's money.

"He was also asked on suggestions to create awareness of the people.

Muszaphar said astronaut clubs could be set up in schools, and books on outer space could be published for primary school pupils.

He added that the National Science Centre could also play a bigger role in this awareness programme.

Coretan Angkasawan: Sibuk penuhi undangan sekolah, IPT

JADUAL saya kini dipenuhi dengan program motivasi berkongsi pengalaman bersama pelajar di seluruh Malaysia. Ia bukan saja membabitkan kanak-kanak, malah sekolah dan universiti tempatan. Setiap hari saya mendapat panggilan supaya hadir ke majlis mereka untuk berkongsi pengalaman sebagai angkasawan negara.

Tidak lupa juga stesen radio dan rangkaian televisyen yang tidak henti-henti mengundang untuk menghadiri program mereka.

Minggu lalu, saya melawat Sekolah Seri Puteri Cyberjaya , Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak Kelana Jaya, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, UiTM Melaka, Sekolah Menengah Sains Raub, Sekolah Menengah St John dan Universiti Multimedia.

Kadangkala dua atau tiga sekolah dalam sehari. Saya tidak sampai hati untuk menghampakan harapan pelajar apabila dijemput ke sekolah mereka walaupun pada Sabtu atau Ahad.

Suatu kepuasan tercapai dalam diri ini apabila dapat melihat senyuman pada bibir mereka. Inilah yang dijanjikan buat negara Malaysia setelah kembali dari angkasa lepas.

Jadual saya kini padat hingga Julai. Tidak lupa pula janji saya untuk MARA dalam lawatan “angkasawan pulang ke gagang” dan saya akan bermula bertapak di utara melawat Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Pendang, Kepala Batas dan Taiping.

Banyak lagi sekolah yang masih belum diterokai, terutama di Sabah dan Sarawak. Saya berharap mereka dapat bersabar kerana saya pasti akan ke sana dalam masa terdekat ini. Cuma saya terkilan apabila sesetengah pihak sudah mendirikan kain rentang dan memberitahu, akan kehadiran angkasawan walaupun masih belum mendapat persetujuan daripada saya.

Saya menerima banyak emel dan surat mengatakan Dr Sheikh tidak datang seperti yang dijanjikan. Saya benar-benar berharap perkara ini tidak akan berulang kerana bersimpati kepada mereka yang datang dari jauh.

Apabila saya bermesra bersama pelajar, saya sering bertanyakan impian mereka dan ramai yang begitu bersemangat dan bercita-cita menjadi angkasawan. Saya sering menekankan bahawa anda tidak semestinya memilih angkasawan kerana peluang dalam bidang itu adalah terhad, tetapi boleh menjadi saintis, doktor dan jurutera angkasa lepas untuk membuat sumbangan dalam bidang angkasa lepas.

Penjelajahan saya ke angkasa lepas bukan saja membabitkan bidang sains, tetapi sastera dan Islam. Bagi bidang sastera, saya membawa baju batik, menulis sajak dan membuat lukisan untuk sumbangan kepada golongan seni.

Bagi umat Islam pula, cara berpuasa dan bersolat telah direkodkan dalam bentuk video untuk dikongsi bersama umat Islam seluruh dunia. Inilah kehebatan program angkasawan negara yang membabitkan setiap lapisan masyarakat.

Saya juga mengikuti perkembangan rakan karib, Yi Seo Yeon, wanita Korea Selatan yang pertama ke angkasa lepas. Beliau juga menjalani pelbagai eksperimen saintifik di ISS dan membawa makanan kegemaran Korea iaitu Kimchi dan akan tinggal di ISS selama 10 hari sebelum kembali bersama krew saya, Yuri Malanchenko dan Peggy Whitson.

Saya berharap Malaysia juga mampu menghantar wanita kita ke angkasa lepas pada masa akan datang. Ini sudah pastinya akan menjadi satu inspirasi kepada golongan wanita di Malaysia.

SOALAN:

Saya ingin tahu adakah Dr nampak arah ke Kaabah dari ISS. Boleh ceritakan pengalaman ketika pendaratan cemas?

Farah Husna

JAWAPAN

ISS berada 400 kilometer (km) dari bumi dan mengelilingi orbit dengan kelajuan 27,000 km/jam. Dari jendela ISS, kami dapat melihat lautan, gunung-ganang, sungai, pencemaran hutan dan lautan, tetapi mustahil untuk

melihat bangunan mahupun kenderaan kerana kedudukannya terlalu jauh.

Ada peralatan komputer di ISS yang menunjukkan tempat-tempat yang kami lalui dan saya

berkesempatan untuk melihat Pulau Pinang apabila melalui kawasan Malaysia. Negeri yang begitu indah

apabila dapat melihatnya dari jendela ISS.

Ada pelbagai sebab mengapa pendaratan cemas berlaku. Berat badan yang berbeza juga boleh menyebabkan ‘ballistic reentry’ . Setelah dikaji, masalah kabel adalah punca mengapa kami terbabas sejauh 450 km dari sasaran.

Sheikh Muszaphar raring for a shot at Mars exploration

KUANTAN, Tues:

Astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha is raring to go on another space mission — and he has his eyes set on joining a two-year exploration to Mars.

"I don't mind even if it's a one-way ticket," he said in a special session with Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) staff and students at its campus here today.

Some might think that he was joking but Dr Sheikh Muszaphar stressed that as an astronaut, he had to be ready for the worst as anything could happen in outer space.

He said the Russians were planning to send a manned spacecraft to the Red Planet.

It was reported that the launch date would be between 2016 and 2020 and the Mars probe would carry a crew of four to five cosmonauts. Russia has already extended an invitation to Malaysia to take part in the training programme where six volunteers would be selected from the international space community.

The selected candidates will live and work in a special complex for between 500 and 700 days, communicating with the outside world only via e-mail. The distance from Mars — which is the fourth planet from the sun — ranges between 55.7 million to 401.3 million kilometres from Earth, depending on the position of both planets in orbit to the sun. The astronauts will have to endure a 250-day journey to reach the planet from Earth.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar told the packed lecture hall that Malaysia should continue to promote space exploration as it had been proven to spur the younger generations to excel in their studies, especially in science and mathematics.

Space trip a 'realisation of nation's aspirations'

KUALA LUMPUR: When Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha successfully docked at the International Space Station last year, he was not merely fulfilling one man's dream.

Malaysia's first angkasawan was also realising the nation's aspirations to venture into the last frontier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.

Paraphrasing the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, Najib said: "Let no one belittle or deny this achievement. It may be a small step for Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, but for Malaysia, as a nation, it is giant leap forward."

Najib said this at the book launch of Reaching for the Stars, written by Dr Sheikh Muszaphar's younger brother, Sheikh Mustapha Shukor Al-Masrie, who died last year.

The book not only provides a personal account of the bond between the brothers, it also chronicles the angkasawan's journey from the time he was short-listed, trained, selected, and subsequently made his historic trip to space.

Mustapha, or "Ajil", 32, died without regaining consciousness after knocking into a pillar outside a restaurant in Jalan Klang Lama here on Oct 26.

Najib said the government's decision to send a Malaysian to space was a right one, as it had captured the imagination of those who dared to dream.

To underline this fact, Najib pointed out that before Dr Sheikh Muszaphar's space odyssey, almost all of the students who received awards from him would normally list, among others, medicine, engineering and law as the profession that they would most like to venture into. "

But not anymore. Now, many would say that they are aiming to be an angkasawan."

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said his brother's death was a tragic moment for the family, more so for him personally as it happened just hours before he was due to return to Earth."

Among the five (siblings), the two of us shared this unbreakable bond since we were young. Today (the book launch) is not about me, it is about my brother."

His father, Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Syed Shukor, in his speech, spoke about how he had trained his five boys to face the hard knocks in life. "

Words cannot describe the feelings of a father who had experienced a joyous occasion and a tragic moment, both at the same time."

In Reaching for the Stars, Sheikh Mustapha wrote about his perspective on his brother's journey to space in the first part of the book.

The second part is a tribute to the author himself from his parents, his wife and four brothers.

Sadness and joy for memories

GEORGE TOWN: Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha cannot help but feel a tinge of sadness when he talks about the book Reaching for the Stars.

The book, to be launched by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur today, was written by his younger brother, Sheikh Mustapha Shukor Al-Masrie, who died last year.

"My brother was the catalyst for my success and my trip into space. It is my tribute to him," said Malaysia's first astronaut, who had the book published. He is also writing his own account of his adventures.

Mustapha, or "Ajil", died after knocking into a pillar outside a restaurant in Jalan Klang Lama in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 26.

Dr Muszaphar said proceeds from the sale of the book would go to his brother's family. He was speaking after autographing copies of the book at the Brain Awareness Week at Universiti Sains Malaysia yesterday.

He said the response to the book had been tremendous, with 700 copies sold in Sibu in a day and equally good sales elsewhere in the country.

Dr Muszaphar said he would help Malaysians, especially students, change their mindset. "My mission is to make Malaysians believe in themselves and be positive about life."

Dr Muszaphar said he would share with them his experience in space last year.

"Accomplishing the space mission was a great achievement for the country and myself."