Space adventures

Ever been keen on an outer space outing? FRANCIS DASS writes where that wish is almost a reality.

The Blast Zone gives visitors a firsthand experience of a space shuttle lift-off.

THE country is still in the grips of space fever, ever since astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor spent 10 days and 21 hours in space as the first Malaysian out there in October.

Taking the public interest in space exploration further is the Malaysia International Space Adventure (Misa) exhibition. It is on at Precinct 5 in Putrajaya until March 16.

The exhibition is expected to draw around 10,000 visitors each day, says Jamilah Itam, Misa project director.

Misa is jointly organised by Ad Suria Sdn Bhd and the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia.
Set in large white tents on an area measuring about 28,000 square metres, the Misa exhibition comprises eight interconnected zones that enable both children and adults to experience the following activities/themes: Galactic Concourse; History of Space Exploration; Magic Planet; Mars Rover; Space Station Interactive; Space Shuttle Flight Deck; Blast Zone and 4D Theatre.

“We anticipate the most popular attractions will be the Blast Zone and the 4D Theatre,” said Jamilah.

Her sentiments were echoed by Luxembourg-based Jeroen Nijpels, who is in town to offer his consulting services to Misa.

“The Blast Zone is a simulation attraction from Houston Space Centre’s visitor centre in the United States,” Nijpels said.

Nijpels is from a Luxembourg company called JN Entertainment & Leisure Consultancy.

At the Blast Zone, visitors can get the feeling of being at close proximity to a blast off (minus the heat, of course!) and they will also get explanations about the jet fuel used in space shuttles and the types of engines used in space flights.

The 4D theatre will feature a 3D Belgian computer-animated film called Fly Me To The Moon, complete with 3D glasses and seats that play a big role in enhancing the effects of the film.

“4D takes 3D to the next level. The seats move, there will be air blasts, leg ticklers, wind, smoke and light effects to enhance the effects of the 13-minute-long film. The theatre accommodates 96 people at a time,” he said.

Also of interest to visitors is an 1:18 scale model replica of the International Space Station in the Space Station Interactive zone.

The Magic Planet zone is a darkened room where images from outer space will be projected.

There is a sense of being in space; the Mars Rover zone features remote-controlled models of the Mars Rover which Nasa launched to explore the Martian landscape.

Jamilah said two men in astronaut suits will walk around and mingle with visitors.

There are food and beverage outlets and performances by an Australian arts troupe called Strange Fruit. Note that Strange Fruit will only be performing until tomorrow.

Tickets to Misa are now being sold at Eye on Malaysia in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur as well as in Alamanda, the shopping centre in Putrajaya. There are also on-site sales of tickets at Misa’s venue in Putrajaya’s Precinct 5.

At a glance:

Malaysia International Space Adventure

Theme: Experience Space on Earth

Duration: Dec 15, 2007 until March 16, 2008

Opening: Mon to Thurs hours (10am - 11pm, last entry at 9pm); Fri - Sun (10am - 12am, last entry at 10pm)

Admission fees:: Adults (RM38 each); Children aged 3 to 12 years old (RM23 each)

Location: Precinct 5, Putrajaya (look out for large white tents)

For details on ticket sales venues, call Jamilah Itam (019-212-1765) or Regina Yau (016-2298860).

Rahim's song for the angkasawan

Touched by the determination and victory of Malaysia’s first spaceman, composer Rahim Othman penned an inspiration song. He tells SHARMILA BILLOT about the reasons behind the move.

MALAYSIA recently made history by sending a Malaysian to space.

The country’s first angkasawan, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor touched many with his determination and victory.

Among those inspired was composer Rahim Othman who penned down an inspirational song titled Angkasawan (Impian Menjadi Kenyataan).

“The idea occurred to me when I saw him depart from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station using the Soyuz TMA space craft,” said Rahim.
“It was a very touching moment but I also admired his guts.

“That was when I decided to compose a song about our first angkasawan so that the euphoria of his success will not die down.

“I roughly had the music in mind but had some difficulty with the lyrics. I took 10 days to finish it.

“The idea is to motivate Malaysians of our success story in space,” added Rahim.

Angkasawan is special since Rahim has not composed for a decade.

“It’s a comeback song for me and I’m glad it’s something meaningful,” he said.

The song will be sung by newcomer Zainal Hisham Shaari.

Rahim is looking for a partner or sponsor to launch his single. He is also discussing his song with the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry for partnership projects.

EXPANDING HORIZONS: Lofty ambitions

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar‘s father with a message book to his son written by Taman Pendidikan Raihan Petaling Jaya pupils

The angkasawan programme has opened doors to another area of science. It has also provided children with a role model in Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, writes NURJEHAN MOHAMED.

A positive impact on students, says Siti Zaini

Investing in the future of the country, says Khaidzir

Zuhairah says it has opened doors

FOR all the praises and criticisms that the angkasawan programme has garnered, there is no denying the impact that it has had on young minds.

Children from as young as three have started dreaming of going to space while older students are now considering the possibility of doing space exploration studies (see H16).

Child psychologist Associate Professor Dr Khaidzir Ismail from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia sees the programme as a positive one, considering the effect it has had on children.

"The best time to expose children to things would be when they are about seven to 10.
"This is the time that they are forming their sense of self and when they are looking for heroes," he says.

Angksawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor represents many possibilities for children -- something they can grow up to become, someone whose traits they admire, or realising different applications of science.

Khaidzir says that investing in the angkasawan programme can be seen as investing in the future of the country.

After all, he adds, spending billions on building first world infrastructure would be a waste if the mindset of the people is still third world.

"I really hope that the angkasawan would be able to go to schools, from preschools to secondary, to talk to children and encourage them," he says.

There needs to be a paradigm shift in the way that we think and learn, and children have to be taught how to think for themselves.

We do not need an overhaul in what we learn but perhaps a tweak in the way we learn it.

For example, schools could organise a "science week", where they make learning of the subject interactive and fun.

Parents have a role in encouraging their children to work towards their dreams, and not just focus on the glory of being an astronaut.

Younger children are more open to new ideas than teenagers, who are more critical and questioning.

The latter should not be disregarded as being negative but rather as using their thinking skills to articulate their arguments and should be met with straight answers.

"We have the potential to be up there with more developed nations and this is something that the children must see," Khaidzir says.

SK Bukit Damansara co-curriculum coordinator Siti Zaini Idris agrees that the programme has had a positive impact on students, especially those learning science.

Though children in lower primary already learn about space and astronauts, there is nothing like having live contact with one in space.

Twenty students, aged seven to 12, were given the chance to speak to Dr Sheikh Muszaphar while he was in the International Space Station.

The fact that they were in the only primary school among four schools is indicative of the level of interest.

Siti Zaini notes that recent students' tuckshop conversations revolved around the latest happenings of the angkasawan and that many also have paper clippings and scrapbooks to start their space dreams.

Due to popular demand from students, Siti Zaini plans to set up an astronomy club next year.

Zuhairah Ali, executive director of Taman Pendidikan Raihan in Petaling Jaya observes that younger children are more open to the idea of becoming astronauts than older ones.

"It could be that by the time they are older, they are more critical of the possibilities of becoming an angkasawan," she says.

"To me, there is no limit -- this programme has opened doors to another area of science and it has also given children a role model in Dr Sheikh Muszaphar."

You have to instil in them the idea that many things are possible, she adds.

Hasil eksperimen dalam jurnal

KOTA BHARU 26 Jan. – Hasil eksperimen yang dijalankan oleh angkasawan negara, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha di Stesen Angkasa Antarabangsa (ISS) akan diterbitkan dalam jurnal antarabangsa.

Sheikh Muszaphar berkata, pada masa ini perkembangan semua eksperimen itu amat memuaskan dengan sel-sel kajian berkembang dengan baik dan hasilnya akan diperoleh dalam tempoh dua bulan.

“Kita telah mengadakan perbincangan dengan pakar dan saintis seperti dari Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia dan Universiti Teknologi Mara, hasilnya akan dikongsi seluruh dunia,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas Majlis Amanat Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed Kepada Pelajar IPT di Kelantan dan Majlis Bersama Angkasawan Negara di sini hari ini.

Eksperimen yang dijalankan angkasawan negara melibatkan tiga komponen penting iaitu sel di angkasa, mikrob di angkasa dan penghabluran protein.

Menggunakan sepenuhnya kelebihan mikrograviti dan ruang radiasi di angkasa, penyelidikan juga akan memberikan satu bentuk keputusan yang sangat hampir kepada biologi sebenar sel, mikrob dan protein yang dikaji.

Sementara itu, majlis “Pengalaman Saya di Angkasa Lepas’ bersama Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar itu mendapat sambutan hangat apabila hampir 3,000 pelajar IPT memenuhi dewan sebuah hotel di sini bagi mendengar sendiri pengalaman beliau.

Sesi selama dua jam itu dibahagikan kepada dua segmen iaitu Sheikh Muszaphar berkongsi pengalamannya dan sesi soal jawab dengan lebih 30 wakil pelajar mengemukakan pelbagai soalan seperti hasil eksperimen sains dan pengalaman beribadat di angkasa lepas.

We need scientific minds as role models for youth

UNIVERSITI Sains Malaysia started the New Year with a bang, when our angkasawan negara descended on the campus on Jan 5. Like the space launch itself, it was a historic moment not only for USM.

About 5,000 came out in support, including about 1,500 following the event in lecture halls through close-circuit television cameras.

The face-to-face encounter with Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor (SMS, for short) proved an encounter of a lifetime. For almost 11/2 hours, they were mesmerised by the detailed experiences that Dr Muszaphar shared with them, beginning with his childhood ambition to venture into space 25 years ago up to his tumultuous entry back to Earth.

Most intriguing was his version of what life in space is, something unimaginable to most people.

How did he sleep? Eat? Exercise? Answer the call of nature? How did he feel when he saw Mother Earth from space for the first time? What about the experiments he had to conduct? What were the results?
These were among the barrage of questions Dr Muszaphar had to field from students. All questions were handled with humility and, at times, a sense of humour.

Not a single one was left unanswered or put aside because it was considered trivial, including one about what the “smell” of the International Space Station (ISS). It was this that made Dr Muszaphar the hero of the day!

He was literally swarmed by the audience when he inched his way out after the event, while posing for photographs, giving autographs and even friendly advice.

Despite having hosted Nobel Laureates, celebrities and glamorous figures previously, none could match the hero’s welcome accorded to the angkasawan negara by the campus.

More interestingly, it indicated a promising future for science in particular and knowledge in general for the up and coming generation. The long-held belief that the youngsters of today are disinterested in science was for once challenged.

Thus far, there has been a dearth of activities “exposing” successful intellectual Malaysian figures. At least not the level of publicity entertainers are given. New starlets are being introduced to the public by the media frequently. But not so people like Dr Muszaphar.

Should he did not have made it as the country’s first astronaut, chances are he may have remained little known despite his very interesting experiences and achievements.

Not many know that he has spent time in Afghanistan and Cambodia. Or that he is a part-time model and co-owner of a restaurant.In short, he has diverse and vibrant interests, unlike what is happening today where many students have no time for anything else. Or discouraged to do anything else.

In fact, the person whom Dr Muszaphar regards as his mentor, Professor Datuk Mazlan Othman, should have been made better known as an intellectual icon for young aspiring science students.

We must also remember the “backroom boys” responsible for making the space programme an astounding success. They are the unsung scientific heroes who we have conveniently forgotten, believing they will not inspire others.

USM’s experience with Dr Muszaphar has categorically disproved this perception. Instead, much needs to be done to meet the demands of the inquisitive minds of young Malaysians.

Our responsibility is to give them the space and opportunities to not only find the right answers but, more importantly, ask the right questions. Only in this way can new discoveries be made and a truly knowledge-based society created.

In a nutshell, the empire of the future is the empire of the mind — a great one at that.

To Dr Sheikh Muszaphar and the like, their task remains a tremendous, if not a challenging one. One of most recent examples one must keep in mind is none other than Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, India’s 11th president from 2002 until July last year.

A versatile person, he played a leading role in the development of India’s missile programmes (see http://www.indianmuslims.info/book/export/html/12). Despite this and having held the country’s highest office, he chose to humbly do what he loves most — engage with students and teach. He is now involved in various programmes like Youth Movement for Developed India 2020.

Like Malaysia, Dr Kalam wants to transform India into a developed nation by 2020 as professed in his book Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India (2003). We can get no better example than this to emulate.

And through Dr Sheikh Muszaphar we see such a future in the making, God willing!

The writer is vice-chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia. He can be reached at vc@usm.com.my

Maal Hijrah celebrations

Astronaut gets award

SEREMBAN: Malaysia's first astronaut, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, was chosen as the Tokoh Maal Hijrah 1429 for Negri Sembilan.

He received the award from the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman at the state level Maal Hijrah celebration yesterday."I feel honoured that the state government has decided to give me the award. I would like to express my gratitude to the state government for the honour," said Dr Sheikh Muszaphar who received a RM5,000 prize, a certificate and an Umrah package.

Also present at the ceremony were the Tuanku Ampuan Negri Sembilan Tuanku Najihah and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said he would continue with his efforts to meet the nation's youths in order to inspire them to be interested in science and astronomy.

"The space programme showed that we can compete in the global platform. In the meetings that I have had with our youth, a lot of them have voiced their interest to be involved in science and technology."

His parents, Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Abdul Shukor and Datin Zuraida Sheikh Ahmad, were also present at the event.

The state government also presented a special award to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia physics professor, Dr Roslan Abd Shukor. He received a RM5,000 prize and a robe.Roslan is a Fellow of London's Institute of Physics since 2004 and a Fellow of the Malaysian Science Academy since last year.

He also sits on the advisory board of the Superconductor Science and Technology, a journal published by the Institute of Physics.

Astronaut to publish brother's book

GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia's first astronaut, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, was hoping to write a book about his space adventures.

But, unbeknown to him, his late brother, Sheikh Mustafa Shukor Al Masrie, had beaten him to it. Sheikh Mustafa, who died on Oct 27 last year after a fall, had written a book on his brother becoming an astronaut.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar now plans to publish the book as a tribute to Sheikh Mustafa.

"I would like to do this as a tribute to my brother and that is why his book is coming out first," Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said at a press conference yesterday, adding that the book would be launched next month.He said it was his brother who had encouraged him to become an astronaut.

His own book, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said, would be launched in July and would revolve around the training he went through and his experiences.

He had earlier attended a forum organised by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) where he shared his experiences during his 12-day mission on the International Space Station (ISS).

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, who was greeted by a 3,000-strong crowd when he entered the Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra, held the attention of all present with anecdotes of his life and the time he spent in space.

He said there was an "open house" during Hari Raya Aidilfitri where all the crew aboard the ISS gathered and shared food."I also brought some Hari Raya music like Seribu Bintang by the Alleycats and Balik Kampung by Sudirman to share with the other astronauts," he said.

During the question-and-answer session, he was queried on a variety of topics ranging from how he coped with going to toilet in space to more serious ones like his thoughts on Malaysia's decision to buy the Soyuz rocket.Dr Sheikh Muszaphar urged students to take up aerospace-related fields of study so that Malaysia could build its own rocket by 2020.

"We have to start somewhere and I am confident that with many experts in the field we can have our own rocket by 2020."

Meanwhile, USM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said there was a need to nurture more intellectuals and scientists as role models.

"I never get such a crowd when a scientist comes to USM. We need more people like Dr Sheikh Muszaphar if we want to go to space and to the next level."