Astro, Not!
24 September 2007 | 10,995 views
If you’re waiting in nail-biting suspense over who will be the first Malaysian in space, don’t.
The Expedition 16 crew members pose for a portrait at the Johnson Space Center. From the left (front row) are Russia’s Federal Space Agency cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, flight engineer and Soyuz commander; astronaut Peggy Whitson, commander; and Malaysian spaceflight participant Sheikh Muzhaphar Shukor. From the left (back row) are European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Léopold Eyharts, astronaut Garrett Reisman and astronaut Dan Tani, all flight engineers.
Picture and caption are from the Nasa website. Note that Sheikh Muzhaphar is referred to as “spaceflight participant” and not “astronaut” or “cosmonaut, as the other crew members are.
No disrespect to the man, but so much for our “Angkasawan”, huh? MERDEKA!
100 Responses to “Astro, Not!”
1 whispering9 24 September 2007 @ 10:33 am
I think you get that tittle “spaceflight participant” when you paid for the seat and not earned it. Part of that big ticket comes from my taxes. I would rather it goes to an independent organisation for finding missing kids. Pardon my cynicism. Maybe they will bow down to ‘advertised space demand’ and named our man the Bolehnaut after reading your blog. Nothing surprises me nowadays. Phew..
2 rocky 24 September 2007 @ 10:55 am
Ha ha.Lucky they didn’t say Malaysian Canornot Sheikh…..
So what is the Malay term. Peserta penerbangan angkasa..oops looks like some BN guys will want to add this trip to their lawatan sambil belajar!!!
angkasapuri more like it, not angkasawan.
3 Sally 24 September 2007 @ 11:02 am
Lol. Better to be known as Spaceflight Participant then “Roti Canai Space Tester” or “Teh Tarik Space Only Participant”.
Whatever it is UMNO will consider this as a great achievement. Kah kah.
4 BMalaya 24 September 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Hahaha. Malaysia boleh indeed.
5 Sihaya 24 September 2007 @ 1:00 pm
It’s not that nice to speak ill of someone who’s basically fighting for his life in a hospital but this sort of grand national gestures, many times with very little socioeocnomic, cultural or even political substance is synonymous with the Tun.
“Spaceflight Participant”. Heh.
6 Steve 24 September 2007 @ 2:10 pm
surelah, most of them r trained engineer.
bukan “jack of all trade” nak jadi angkasawan.
its the brain not the body tat’s count.
7 Harry 24 September 2007 @ 2:13 pm
I guess his role will be more or less like MAS Steward…Coffee, tea or me???:P
8 anon 24 September 2007 @ 2:17 pm
well, i might be wrong on this but the term Spaceflight Participant are being used for those countries that are not from the Space-5 nations (US, Russia, Japan, Canada, EU). All other participants would be endowed with the spaceflight moniker. however, more importantly is that both of them are listed in the astronaut corps (ie. professional astronauts)which allows them to be part of future missions.
9 Leithaisor 24 September 2007 @ 2:22 pm
Reminds me of a certain Malaysian who, on disembarking from a helicopter which had carried her – as a passenger – to the South Pole, proclaimed something like “I am so proud of myself!”.
Proud of what?
I wonder who actually paid the taxi fare.
10 anon 24 September 2007 @ 2:34 pm
Spaceflight participant?
If you paid for the ride, you are called the passenger.
11 tiban 24 September 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Feel cheated. The will be no space experiments by our ‘Angkasawan’ or in realilty a space tourist.
Lookup what does Spaceflight Participant means in wikipedia :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceflight_Participant
12 kent 24 September 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Hi tiban,
Your right. Its space tourism in disguise. sigh publicity stunt….same like mat rempit on artic? Feeling proud? how does other country view us? feeling like laughing or crying?
I believe those other multi-millionaire space tourist have to undergo the same training like the guy.
The only different is the other pay themself, this guy is paid by 25mil malaysian.
Don’t you like a free holiday to the space?
The motto is “to boldly go where no melayu has gone b5″ he is melayu tulen?
13 frankie 24 September 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Spaceflight participant he is, no more no less. Calling him an astronaut is just wishful thinking, lucky they never call him a hitch hiker,
14 Breeze 24 September 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Media circles say he is gay. Is he?
15 hurricanemax 24 September 2007 @ 5:20 pm
hahahhaha but dont laugh…malaysia very own BolehorNot will be the first to do zero gravity shake of Tehtarik-kind, and this will be conducted in nanosec under the supervision of some bolehfessors in local Uni of bolehland…
malu big time is 1 thing…but a lot of MY money went for nuts!
16 notso 24 September 2007 @ 5:40 pm
The label is not important lah. By the way, dont you think our guy is better looking than all the other crew members?
17 lulu 24 September 2007 @ 5:58 pm
at least they tak letak “space tourist”
18 daniel 24 September 2007 @ 6:49 pm
Did you guys notice that the crest on his shirt is different from the rest?
19 walla 24 September 2007 @ 8:09 pm
maybe the orchidometer will be used up there for some scientific experiment….
20 tarnsami 24 September 2007 @ 9:16 pm
i noticed the he has a different badge on his right breast while the rest are on their left.
21 yay 24 September 2007 @ 10:48 pm
Hopefully if he ever he were to try playing gasing or make tehtarik in space, he won’t screw up the actual astraunauts’ research for humanity. Or worst, blows up the whole spaceship. LOL.
22 trashed 24 September 2007 @ 11:03 pm
So basically, our Malaysian Space Participant will launch on 10 Oct 2007 and return on 21 Oct 2007.
That was basically what it said in the caption under his name on details for Expedition 16. It is revealing compared to the narration of the other members of Expedition 16’s crew.
23 Leithaisor 25 September 2007 @ 12:29 am
“notso”, “…our guy is better looking than all the other crew members”? I have to agree with you there. He is, after all, a part-time model.
But not an astronaut.
And while the label may not be all that important, aside from the small matter of calling a spade a spade that is, the matter of whether there is such a thing as a free lunch arises.
Who is paying the taxi fare?
24 lucia 25 September 2007 @ 1:24 am
maybe those people at NASA have not heard about the word ‘bolehnaut’?
yep notso, our first bolehnaut is one good looking dude! (it is said he’s a part-time model)
25 lucia 25 September 2007 @ 1:39 am
oh just read from the star dated 20 sept the reason for him not being named as a astronaut…?
===However, sources with the Angkasawan Project said the reason for the foreign media and Nasa naming him as a member of the crew was because Dr Sheikh Muszaphar had always been named as the “primary candidate” and Kapt Dr Faiz Khaleed as the secondary one.===
from:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/9/20/nation/18938091&sec=nation
26 zorro 25 September 2007 @ 2:07 am
Not like MAS steward…no serving of food,,,everyone has their own ration. More likely, he will FEED the experimental monkeys imported from Malaysia, when instructed in his flight manual.I believe MSM sending a bevy of reporters to cover VIP attending the launch. No wonder Nurin’s murderer is still at large. Next trip, let’s send the Cabinet. They should qualify since they have nothing up THERE (read brains).
27 mcass 25 September 2007 @ 3:16 am
who cares what he will be name, be it bolehnot, canornot, space participant, he goes to space man, and thats enough already,
28 facial 25 September 2007 @ 5:35 am
Hi Notsocrew and “Rojak Type” is not the same.
29 yusehman 25 September 2007 @ 5:50 am
NASA Public Affairs has used the term Spaceflight Participant to designate space tourists. Tito, Shuttleworth, Olsen, Ansari, and Simonyi were designated as such during their respective space flights.[6] lists Christa McAuliffe as a “Space Flight Participant” (although she did not pay a fee), apparently due to her non-technical duties aboard the STS-51-L flight.
check this out.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/PS/index.html
Nothing wrong with the term used. Nothing to feel being belittle or what.
Sadly as usual, Malaysians mostly have this “inferiority complex” when termed as such.
30 Zawi 25 September 2007 @ 7:16 am
Then its confirmed that our man is just a participant in a space flight tourism and not as an astonaut or cosmonaut. Now they are feeling for the people’s reaction as to whether the program is to be continued or not. As if they would listen to us the commong folks.
Continue to waste our money away as if the till has no bottom while thaey say that the Government has no fund to beef up security or to offer free twxtbooks to school children.
31 Ted Teh 25 September 2007 @ 8:59 am
he is probably called that bcos it matters not if he is on the flight. the others probably has some role in flying the spacecraft he just sits there and does nothing i suppose, maybe not qualified to handle the flight instruments.
the others are if u noticed are flight engineers and astronauts or cosmonauts with their respective agencies…
just my opinion.
dont knock him too much.. he is what he is.. a passenger.. we knew that a long before this.. nothing new.
32 juslo 25 September 2007 @ 9:37 am
look at his NASA ‘profile’ too – very ‘distinguished’ indeed.
“Spaceflight Participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor
Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor will launch with Expedition 16 and land with Expedition 15.”
he’s only there to ‘launch with’ (they would have stated ‘lunch with’ if it were not Ramadan, given the teh tarik n roti canai n what not..), n then to ‘land with’, THAT’S ALL.
cemerlang, gemilang, terbilang!!
33 yke 25 September 2007 @ 11:25 am
Rather a lot of money spent for the benefit of one person. To him it is an experience of a lifetime, however I don’t see any benefit to the public (after all it is tax payers’ money) at all if no scientific experiments are made while he is up there.
34 GRoo 25 September 2007 @ 6:21 pm
HE is there to make one very crucial experiment. IS there any glokal Msians in outer space?
If not he will be the first and Najib our loaded Defense Minister (kachinggg) will be so proud to officially annouce our true GLOKAL and Towering Malaysian or let’s just put it as Towering Malay at the expense of other 26mil citizens of Msia.
5,4,3,2,1……WTF!
35 bakaq a.k.a. ~penarik beca 25 September 2007 @ 10:02 pm
Saya ada ciluk sikit dari blog Tuan di sini. Mohon izinkan.
36 Astro Nut 26 September 2007 @ 12:56 am
He’s trying very hard, what? Best that we have, and you’re laughing at him. You’re laughing at yourselves, actually. We don’t have NASA in this country, so you expect we have astronaut? I support Sheikh that he’s going greater heights. Some of us here didn’t go any higher than a coconut tree. He may be an inspiration to our future generations. We might produce some real astronauts in the future. Today no one is interested to become one. My eldest son when he was 6 would ask, “what if I will never come back?” So my family, if we want to tour the space, we have Astro.
37 Astro Nut 26 September 2007 @ 1:28 am
FYI Sheikh does not wear the official Expedition 16 badge, instead he is wearing Angkawasan Malaysia badge. THAT makes him an astronaut!
38 shar 26 September 2007 @ 1:51 am
Maybe they might give our space flight participant a ‘kiddy steering wheel’ to play with. Whatever this bloke will or will not do in space, I can envisage the ‘nauseating’ euphoria upon his return to terra firma, courtesy of our government.
On another note but quite relevant to space travel, China have decided to build another launch pad to enhance their research.
There was some talk or proposal in the past about something similar to be built in Sabah i.e. a location as near as possible to the equator. Of course, there is no way that Malaysia can take the lead on such a project but we can ‘piggy back’ and learn/gain something along the way.
Not enough scientists and too many politinauts, I suppose.
39 bru99 26 September 2007 @ 10:32 am
One of the reason why our spaceman sheik is not being called an Astronaut or Cosmonaut. See the other crews experiences :
Experience by Peggy A. Whitson (Ph.D.)
NASA Astronaut
The Expedition-5 crew launched on June 5, 2002 aboard STS-111 and docked with the International Space Station on June 7, 2002. During her 6-month stay aboard the Space Station, Dr. Whitson installed the Mobile Base System, the S1 truss segment, and the P1 truss segment using the space station remote manipulator system, performed a 4 hour and 25 minute Orlan EVA to install micrometeoroid shielding on the Zvezda Service Module, and activated and checked out the Microgravity Sciences Glovebox, a facility class payload rack. She was named the first NASA Science Officer during her stay, and she conducted 21 investigations in human life sciences and microgravity sciences, as well as commercial payloads. The Expedition-5 crew (one American Astronaut and two Russian Cosmonauts) returned to Earth aboard STS-113 on Dec. 7, 2002. Completing her first flight, Dr. Whitson logged 184 days, 22 hours and 14 minutes in space.
Experience by YURI IVANOVICH MALENCHENKO
(COLONEL, RUSSIAN AIR FORCE)
TEST COSMONAUT AT THE YU.A. GAGARIN
COSMONAUT TRAINING CENTER
Malenchenko completed his first 126-day spaceflight in July 1 – Nov. 4, 1994 on the Soyuz TM-14 vehicle and the Mir station (Mir-16 mission). The mission included spaceflight of Ulf Merbold, an ESA astronaut as part of the EuroMir program. Malenchenko completed two spacewalks that lasted 11 hours and 7 minutes total. He performed the first manual docking of the Mir station with the Progress M-24 vehicle in the teleoperator mode. Since Oct. 1998 till Sept. 2000 Malenchenko trained at NASA for a Shuttle spaceflight (2A, later 2A.2B).
Malenchenko served on the crew of STS-106 preparing the International Space Station for the arrival of the first permanent crew. The five astronauts and two cosmonauts delivered more than 6,600 pounds of supplies and installed batteries, power converters, a toilet and a treadmill on the Space Station. Yuri Malenchenko and Ed Lu performed a 6 hour and 14 minute space walk in order to connect power, data and communications cables to the newly arrived Zvezda Service Module and the Space Station.
Since Jan. 2001 he trained as a commander of the ISS 7 prime crew. Malenchenko completed his third spaceflight (with NASA astronaut Ed Lu) as an ISS 7 crew and Soyuz TMA commander. The flight lasted from April 26 till Oct. 27, 2003, with a total duration of 185 days.
Since Nov. 2003 till Sept. 2005 Malenchenko trained with a group of test-cosmonauts.
Since Oct. 2005 till Oct. 2006 he trained as a flight engineer of the ISS 14 crew and Soyuz commander.
In Oct. 2006 he started training as an ISS 16 crew flight engineer and Soyuz commander that is scheduled to launch to the ISS in Oct. 2007.
Experience by Daniel M. Tani
NASA Astronaut
STS-108 Endeavour (December 5-17, 2001) was the 12th shuttle flight to visit the International Space Station. During the mission Tani served as MS-2. Endeavour’s crew delivered the Expedition-4 crew and returned the Expedition-3 crew. The crew unloaded over 3 tons of supplies, logistics and science experiments from the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Tani performed a space walk to wrap thermal blankets around ISS Solar Array Gimbals. STS-108 was accomplished in 185 Earth orbits, traveling 4.8 million miles in 283 hours and 36 minutes, including an EVA of 4 hours and 12 minutes.
Experience by LÉOPOLD EYHARTS (General, French Air Force)
ESA Astronaut (Mission Specialist)
In August 1998, Léopold Eyharts was assigned by the European Space Agency to train at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. As part of the international astronauts of the 1998 class, he attended Astronaut Candidate Training which included orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training, as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques. Initially assigned to the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch. Léopold Eyharts’ assignments include serving as a flight engineer to the Expedition-12 and Expedition-13 back-up crews.
Experience by Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.)
NASA Astronaut (Mission Specialist)
Selected by NASA in June 1998, Dr. Reisman reported for training in August 1998. Astronaut Candidate Training included orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training, as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques.
After completing this training, Dr. Reisman was assigned to the Astronaut Office Robotics Branch where he worked primarily on the Space Station robotic arm.
In October 2001, Dr. Reisman was assigned to the Astronaut Office Advanced Vehicles Branch where he worked on the displays and checklists to be used in the next generation Space Shuttle cockpit.
In June 2003, Dr. Reisman was a crewmember on NEEMO V, living on the bottom of the sea in the Aquarius habitat for two weeks.
Dr. Reisman is currently training for a future long-duration mission on the International Space Station
And our Hero…..the man……
Experience by Spaceflight Participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar obtained his high school education at Maktab Rendah Sains MARA in Muar. He then pursued his MBBS medical degree at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.(Yoi! where is this country)
Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar is an orthopaedic doctor and a trainee lecturer in medicine with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Previously, he has served in Hospital Seremban (1998), Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (1999) and Hospital Selayang (2000-2001)
Some said he’s part time model……….
40 seantang 26 September 2007 @ 10:55 am
Astro Nut said: He is the best that we have.
How so? There’s nobody better than him?
41 juslo 26 September 2007 @ 12:28 pm
Astro Nut and yusehman,
the ridicule here is not aimed at Sheikh Muzhaphar Shukor personally, but the label ‘ANGKASAWAN’ given by the government.
malaysians/malaysia are simply not good enough for space technology, we all know that. nobody is feeling ‘inferior’ about it – even china only got their first astronaut 2 years or so ago. both of u have missed the point here.
what i’m against is this constant EXAGGERATION by the government – INFLATING their claims for little, insignificant, pseudo-’achievements’. like calling proton n perodua ‘national car’, suggesting that the car was 100% made in malaysia but in reality they r only ‘assembled’ in malaysia with minor malaysian-made parts.
now, calling space flight participants aka space tourist ‘astronaut’, ‘angkasawan’.
some of us cant stand having our intelligence being INSULTED again n again, but u don’t seem to mind.
sure i applaud Sheikh Muzhaphar al-part time model for being the FIRST MALAYSIAN IN SPACE, for being lucky enough to b given a free holiday in space which others have to pay USD20m for.
but i have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING 2B PROUD OF this guy who just happen 2b LUCKY. it’s an oxymoron 2b ‘proud’ of a lucky guy, it doesn’t make sense.
n i m ABSOLUTELY ASHAMED of the fact that we malaysians have once again let our Kerajaan Boleh take us for a ride… to the space, this time.
42 juslo 26 September 2007 @ 12:41 pm
Astro Nut and yusehman,
won’t u call this FRAUD??? front page some more!
Muka Hadapan
Muszaphar, Faiz calon akhir angkasawan pertama negara
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2006&dt=0905&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_02.htm
Ketika mengumumkan calon angkasawan negara itu, Perdana Menteri berkata, Malaysia berjaya mengorak langkah baru dengan membuktikan kemampuan untuk menghantar angkasawan ke angkasa lepas.
‘‘Ini adalah satu detik penting dalam sejarah. Kerajaan dan seluruh rakyat mengucapkan tahniah dan syabas kepada mereka yang terpilih dalam usaha memartabatkan nama negara di pesada dunia.
Dalam pada itu, Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Datuk Seri Dr. Jamaluddin Jarjis berkata, …ia merupakan tarikh yang bersejarah kerana Malaysia akan menyambut Hari Kemerdekaan ke-50 pada tahun itu dan dua hari selepas itu, negara akan mencipta sejarah dengan menghantar rakyat Malaysia ke angkasa lepas.
——————————————-
‘kemampuan’ (ability), ‘mencipta sejarah’ (creates history) – what kemampuan?? what ’sejarah’??!!
‘ability’ to SPEND PEOPLE’S MONEY FOR JOYRIDE n have no shame about it! ‘ability’ to SPIN SHAME INTO PRIDE!
‘history’ of YET AGAIN FOOLING GULLIBLE MALAYSIANS!!
that’s what we r good for, ahahahaaaHAHAhahahaHAHAHAAAA!!!
43 jack 26 September 2007 @ 5:10 pm
Why $30 Million USD for sending another “spaceflight participant”? according to wikipedia and all records at NASA site, other spaceflight participants paid only USD 20 Million!!!!
any guess where the other USD 10 Million going to? and thats MYR 38 Million!!!!!! times 2 if you consider BOTH the spaceflight participants….. = MYR 76 Million into somebody’s pockets….
44 astro(not) ? at Bolehland 27 September 2007 @ 4:38 am
[...] to Aisehman, we have the evident [...]
45 boleh lah 27 September 2007 @ 10:34 am
As of 2007, space tourism opportunities are limited and expensive, with only the Russian Space Agency providing transport. The price for a flight brokered by Space Adventures to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft is now $30 million. Flights are fully booked until 2009.
it is USD30 now
46 juslo 28 September 2007 @ 8:59 am
Aisehman,
i know u r not the self-congratulatory type, but u’ll b pleased to know that YOU HAVE MADE AN IMPACT!!!
keep up your sharpness!!
———————————————–
Kerajaan mesti terus terang benarkah wujud angkasawan Malaysia ?
Abdul Halim Mohd Rashid
Fri | Sep 28, 07 | 6:58:59 am MYT
http://www.harakahdaily.net/bm/index.php/utama/kerajaan-mesti-terus-terang-benarkah-ada-angkasawan-malaysia.html
Setakat yang dikesan, orang yang pertama mempersoalkan perkara itu ialah seorang blogger yang menamakan dirinya sebagai Aisehman.
Dalam postingnya yang bertajuk “Astro, Not!”, beliau menyiarkan gambar yang dipetik dari laman web Nasa yang menyatakan secara jelas bahawa apa yang didakwa sebagai angkasawan Malaysia hanya disebut sebagai “spaceflight participant”.
Peserta dari Malaysia itu tidak disebut sebagai angkasawan (astronaut atau cosmonaut) dalam gambar tersebut.
Menurut Wikipedia, spaceflight participant ialah gelaran yang diberikan oleh Nasa kepada pelancong angkasa.
———————————————–
i would like to add that just bcos Sheikh Muzhaphar Al-PartTimeModel is going to perform some ’scientific experiment’ in space DOES NOT, by virtue of that, make him an Astronaut. some space tourists have done that before:
Space tourism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceflight_Participant#Private_space_tourism
“The third was Gregory Olsen in 2005, who is trained as a scientist and whose company produces specialist high-sensitivity cameras. Olsen planned to use his time on the ISS to conduct a number of experiments, in part to test his company’s products.”
any sufficiently-trained science graduate could perform those experiments to b done by our Sheikh in space, but that doesnt make him an Astronaut. it’s the difference between a science student n being a SCIENTIST.
just bcos u r able to b in space doesn’t make u a technically-equipped scientist who is qualified to b called an Astronaut, “trained to pilot, navigate, or otherwise participate as a crew member of a spacecraft.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
http://www.bartleby.com/61/71/A0487100.html
our spaceflight participant isn’t even considered as a CREW MEMBER!! he’s just a hitch-hiker!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceflight_Participant#Private_space_tourism
“NASA Public Affairs has used the term Spaceflight Participant to designate space tourists.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronaut
“Until 2003, astronauts were sponsored and trained exclusively by governments, either by the military or by civilian space agencies. However, with the first sub-orbital flight of the privately-funded SpaceShipOne in 2004, a new category of astronaut was created—the commercial astronaut.
With the rise of space tourism, NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency agreed to use the term “spaceflight participant” to distinguish those space travelers from astronauts on missions coordinated by those two agencies.”
whatever the malayasian government want to call it, our Sheikh is only considered by NASA n the Russian (the relevant SCIENTIFIC AUTHORITIES) as a TOURIST.
many NON-scientists have been onboard of the space shuttle, but that DOESN’T amount to any ‘historical achievement’ by them – they know fully well they r ONLY TOURISTS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceflight_Participant#Precedents
“NASA was also eager to prove its capability to Congressional sponsors, and Senator Jake Garn and (then-Representative, now Senator) Bill Nelson were both given opportunities to fly on board a shuttle. As the Shuttle program expanded, the Teacher in Space program was developed as a way to expand publicity and educational opportunities for NASA. Christa McAuliffe would have been the first Teacher in Space, but she was killed in the Challenger disaster and the program was canceled. During the same period a Journalist in Space program was frequently discussed, with individuals such as Walter Cronkite and Miles O’Brien considered front-runners, but no formal program was ever developed. Eventually, McAuliffe’s backup in the Teacher in Space Program, Barbara Morgan, would train and fly as a full-fledged NASA astronaut. She launched aboard STS-118 as a payload specialist and spoke to many students as an educator during the trip.”
even a HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER can b a ’spaceflight participant’ aka TOURIST, so WHAT’S SO SPECIAL/’HISTORICAL’ ABOUT OUR SHEIKH???
smart (being a medical doctor) n healthy (his body is fit enough to b in a space shuttle) chap our Sheikh is , but SCIENTIST he AIN’T!!
so, malaysia – stop flattering yourself!!
———————————————–
the really HUMILIATING thing is that, we malaysians (or at least our government) don’t even know the difference between a genuine scientist n a tourist, between what’s real pedigree n what’s pariah.
it’s like the whole nation getting excited about wearing ‘Prada’ shoes or carrying ‘LV’ bags, not knowing that they r actually 10 year out of date or WORSE, bought from petaling street.
HUMILIATION – that’s what a PARIAH government delivers best.
47 Sihaya 28 September 2007 @ 11:38 am
Just wanna update:
Even Wired is writing on him –
http://www.wired.com/science/space/news/2007/09/mecca_in_orbit
Article’s pretty straight-forward, neutral.
48 jack 28 September 2007 @ 11:37 pm
just because we fly on an aeroplane, that does not make us a pilot, not even a aircraft engineer, not even a stewardess…… we are just passengers with our tickets…
so being a spaceflight participant is nothing to be proud of…
49 saya anak malaysia 30 September 2007 @ 10:42 pm
ok aper…USD30 million
1 org malaysia derma USD1.20
kita kan dah 26 juta org malaysia
anggaplah kita derma, wakilkan sheikh tu pergi up UP
and away….
50 what the 2 October 2007 @ 10:57 am
i don’t think anybody here has acheived even half of what Sheikh Muzhaphar Shukor has acheived for the past 5 months.
The term “ANGKASAWAN” according to Kamus Dewan adalah “seseorang yang pergi ke angkasa lepas”.
So, term-wise, there is nothing wrong with using “Angkasawan”.
But knowing u people will come up with reasons such as “Itu kamus dewan… dewan bahasa punya… kerajaan punya… UMNO punya… PAS punya… DAP punya…bla.. bla… bla…”
Then, why not you wikipedians geek look up Dictionary.com. The term ASTRONAUT is:
“A person trained to pilot, navigate, or otherwise participate as a crew member of a spacecraft.”
So, nothing wrong here too!
I really don’t know why all these negative thinking. If you want to nitpick the “TERM” used, then look up properly!
So, let it be if the term used by NASA is Space Flight Participant. term wise according to the dictionary, it’s ASTRONAUT.
Some people can only see the negatives of others. Gila…
51 Bro 2 October 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Seperti projek2 yg gah2 yg lalu, niat k’jaan hanye satu: ingin bermegah2 utk membuktikan kpd dunia ‘M’sia boleh!’.
Tu saje. Last2 ape jadi? Rasuah masih jgk berleluasa. Inikah ciri2 negara Islam yg sebenarnya? Tak gune kalau dari jauh bau harum mcm cempedak tapi bile dekat, tgk isi busuk.
52 Che El 2 October 2007 @ 7:33 pm
Guys…
Im not even shocked with that terms…apa2 jelah..but the fact is-this will be the early step to train our totally own asranaut (if that make most of you hot)…but truely, as a part of this mission (our projects will be up there & will be handle by him) deep inside, i believe that our nation will get the impact…may be after a generation. Will see…
And FYI those projects are not the 1st Malaysian project in space…the 1st is C.elegans in Space which i totally involeved in it.
In early stage (before got involved), i do critics why..why..why..too much too earn..wasting..and etc etc…but somehow, good & bad is different from side to side, isnt?then when i involved in those projects, lastly i do admit those projects will give impact and give new dimension in term of medical.
So, for me as part of research team…insyaALLAH i’ll pray for him & of course for those projects..so we will cure & create, @ at least have some more idea to cure the deseases.
53 whats da? 3 October 2007 @ 9:08 am
Ha ha.Lucky they didn’t say Malaysian Peanut…..
54 kent 3 October 2007 @ 2:05 pm
my god. hmm … che el part of research.
I man very good intra-course on space. we search manhood space cum star. many benefit. hope many research done for manhood so cured for pro create.
i foresee future high benefit. we spend more for big beneficial man hood.
flightpassenger call pilot, sea crew call captain, beca call becaconaut. some perform anti-gravity.
We must own big rocket so no man hood question
more.
space tourist? can-or-naut
55 Che El 3 October 2007 @ 6:23 pm
Kent
I do agreed with u….”We must own big rocket so no man hood question more.” and that will happen with this step..send our man to space. this is the beginning journey for our next generation.
FYI, C.elegans is project to investigate the possibility of mutation when we exposed to microgravity & space radiation. This little creature (SUBHANALLAH) is very similar with our gen. If this creature mutate while up there, so was human. Must have way to send human to Mars…long journey..let try try try & c!
56 juslo 4 October 2007 @ 8:28 am
Che El,
u england i understand so not well, but let i try try try & c.
da experiment very important n beneficial to man hood, i doubt not. but don’t need malaysian man do experiment, true not? can spend much less can ask TOP SCIENTISTS (astronaut, NOT PASSENGERS) from other country do in space for malaysia. cheaper, can get benefit, NO POLITICAL GRAND GESTURES.
if want do da experiment ha, send da scientists in relevant field to do better. sheikh just a medical doctor, not even da best in doing that kind of experiment, true not???!!!?!!! how explain this, can???
so, this very clear not for ’scientific benefit to man hood’, really for space travel only, tell malaysians, “passenger equal pilot”. cheating, true not?!?
like, malaysia has first passenger on jumbo jet – proud very much? no me. malaysia first pilot of jumbo jet? yes, me proud very much.
only pariah, stupid government cannot make difference. me insulted lah, bcos me believe still got some intelligence mah.
57 kent 4 October 2007 @ 11:58 am
Aisehman,
it render me speechless. Che el part of reseach team.
we big manhood people need big rocket to balance ego, or else we feel small manhood. wheres my rocket?
nvm this guy just underwent 3 month skydiving training, we will call him astronot.
i say we send Datuk Dr. (he will be, when hes back from space) to Uranus by 2020 using a mid-range missile to prove manhood. do we have mid-range missile? hmm, back to drawing board.
Japanese dont boast at all even their technology flooded the world over.
What people don’t understand is “Face” and “Respect” is accorded by others, but
“malu” is self-inflicted.
58 juslo 5 October 2007 @ 11:55 am
04/10: Russian envoy confirms that Malaysian is not a ‘mere passenger’
By JANE RITIKOS
The Star
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/4/nation/19072942&sec=nation
The Malaysian Angkasawan is no passenger or tourist but a full-fledges cosmonaut, said Russian ambassador to Malaysia Alexander Karchava.
“Russia does not see him as a mere passenger to the International Space Station (ISS). He is a researcher. The experiments he will carry out were discussed between Russia and Malaysia.
“We don’t consider him as a space tourist but a full-fledge cosmonaut,” he said in an interview at the Russian embassy here.
————————————————
then, y don’t u f3%#ing relabel him a ‘cosmonaut’ in the first place, mr ambassador?!?!!
u russians owe all of us malaysians, especially sheikh al-partimemodel a serious apology, man!!
how nice… see what rm3.8 billion of weapons can buy… clarification from his highness the ambassador…
————————————————
“Your Angkasawan will create history for Malaysia and his achievement will be the national pride and install Malaysia as a member of the Space Club.
“To appreciate this, you cannot confine yourself to your kampung. Malaysians have gone places and will go places, even to space,” said the diplomat who speaks fluent Bahasa Indonesia.
———————————————-
behold – tis a new dawn for malaysian history!!
great!! rejoice!!
now, explain how is this ‘researcher’ thingy different from what these SPACE TOURISTS did???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceflight_Participant#Objection_to_.22Space_Tourist.22_terminology
“Dennis Tito, Gregory Olsen and Anousheh Ansari have all expressed their disapproval of the term, “space tourist”, on the basis that all three carried out scientific experiments as part of their journey. Tito has asked to be known as an “independent researcher” while Ansari prefers the term, “private space explorer”.”
with rm3.8 billion, u can call WHATEVER name u want, mate!!
dear ambassador & the morons at malaysian space agency, HINT HINT:
the EASIEST WAY is to REWRITE the wikipedia article (or sue them, if u like grand gestures), GET IT?!!!
note: rewriting wikipedia is FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!
but note again: just remember not to send members of the ‘research team’ to do this rewriting job, who obviously uses arabic in their research work, or bm, or whatever, rather than english…
59 juslo 5 October 2007 @ 12:02 pm
i missed out the ‘vital scientific experiments to benefit manhood’ part…
“…adding that the Angkasawan had an important job to do, carrying out vital scientific experiments to benefit Malaysia and the world.”
how nice to hear that it’s actually the russian government who is actually paying for our very first space tourist:
“To those calling it the Govern-ment’s “waste of money,” Karchava explained that the Russian government would foot the bill to send the Malaysian cosmonaut to space, *******as an offset deal for Malaysia’s purchase******* of its Sukhoi fighter jets.”
n i’m sure the ambassador is working for the russian government FOR FREE, “as an offset deal” for the russian government paying his salary.
rejoice again – malaysia is not the only country run by morons!!!!
60 che dead 6 October 2007 @ 2:32 am
the whole thing seemed farcical. ambassador kinda reminds me of the japs from the south park episode, chinpokomon.
ya, ya, very big pee-anis.. correct, correct.. wow! you malaysian penis so big! what an-whoa immense penis-uh! ya.. thank you for stopping by, with your gargantuan penis.
61 Patriotic Malaysian 8 October 2007 @ 6:26 am
No amount of persuasion or plea (by the Russian Ambassador to Malaysia) can change the decision of both NASA and ROSCOSMOS (Russian Space Agency) to designate Malaysian Muszaphar as “Spaceflight participant”.
Proof at NASA:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition16/index.html
Proof at ROSCOSMOS: http://www.federalspace.ru/
(When you have the web-page, click on the uppermost thumbnail-photo on the right-hand column, where the word ‘TMA-11′ is).
NASA and ROSCOSMOS have to designate him ’spaceflight participant’ and nothing else because they have to abide by the requirements of a document, which can be read at this web-site:
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/isscrewcriteria.pdf
62 tanpadia 8 October 2007 @ 12:25 pm
semua org mempertikaikan program angkasawan ni…tanpa program ini..saya rasa rakyat malaysia tak tau pun pasal soyuz,nasa,iss,sputnik,orbit bla2… secara tiba2 rakyat malaysia berbincang-berdebat-berinteraksi mengenai alam cekrawala ….. can u see that! its knowledge bro…
think..
p/s. pasal salah guna kuasa/duit next election
pandai2 la undi …
63 bolehlah…. 8 October 2007 @ 6:30 pm
Guys, give this matter a break la! What is USD30 million compared to the hundreds of millions that has been squandered before? look at all the “negotiated” contracts, sami-value projects…
Just get in line, be a sub-servient idiot and be happy……
64 dolmat 9 October 2007 @ 8:44 am
Everybody learn from below… no body straight away at the top.. if there is, they will destroy and spoil everything. Eventhough he is a space tourist, he is representing Malaysia to be the first in space… weh! even your boses not give their seat straight away to you because lack of experience.
65 juslo 9 October 2007 @ 12:36 pm
dolmat,
“Everybody learn from below… no body straight away at the top..”
agree with u 100%. but our government is trying to tell us that we r ALREADY AT THE TOP, NOT JUST ‘FROM BELOW’.
quoting the russian idiot again:
“Your Angkasawan will create history for Malaysia and his achievement will be the national pride and install Malaysia ********************as a member of the Space Club*********************.”
is that what u mean by ‘learning from below’?
how can u learn from below if u don’t even want 2 b HONEST about WHERE U REALLY R?
true not??
thanks Patriotic Malaysian for the very helpful links.
from “Principles Regarding Processes and
Criteria for Selection, Assignment, Training
and Certification of ISS (Expedition and
Visiting) Crewmembers”, p4:
“III. Definitions
There are two types of crewmembers, professional astronauts/cosmonauts and spaceflight
participants. These crewmembers can be designated as expedition or visiting crewmembers.
Professional Astronaut/Cosmonaut
A professional astronaut/cosmonaut is an individual who ********has completed the official selection******** and ********has been qualified******** as such at the space agency of one of the ISS partners and ********is employed on the staff of the crew office of that agency.********
Spaceflight Participant
Spaceflight participants are individuals (e.g. commercial, scientific and other programs;
crewmembers of non-partner space agencies, engineers, scientists, ********teachers, journalists,
filmmakers or tourists********) sponsored by one or more partner(s). Normally, this is a ********temporary assignment******** that is covered under a short-term contract.”
tanpadia,
we could have learned all those things/aroused all those interests WITHOUT BEING HUMILIATED/TANPAMALU, right?
66 Tuan Kar Jun 10 October 2007 @ 1:31 pm
send someone from ur kg. b to the space and everybody 100% will call him cosmonaut,astronaut, all in one naut because he is 100% not ok
67 Tuan Kar Jun 10 October 2007 @ 1:32 pm
Long life aisehmad
68 yak 10 October 2007 @ 4:34 pm
entahlah labu
69 fitri 10 October 2007 @ 5:06 pm
no idea what gonna happen to Malaysia.but a source said hes gonna doing research about microgravity.isnt he? does it need a doc to do that research?i dunno..
http://www.ukm.my/ukmportal/News/berita_angkasawan2.html
70 dolmat 11 October 2007 @ 11:31 am
Even a space tourism, it is much – much different from tourism Malaysia, Germany, Japan, US.. or even a highest mountain or the coolest land. We have move one step forward. Dr. Sheikh has created a mind to young generation to be more than him…entah la!
71 xinya 11 October 2007 @ 2:01 pm
I totally agree with comment no.50(what the).Malaysians are one big negative lot.Do this also kutuk..do that also kutuk.Will we ever be happy?NO.The thing is, while so many of you guys kutuk this angkasawan thing or anything else habis habis…how come nothing ever changes?Cos everyone just talks negatively and never does anything positively.Bru99, ure comparing Sheikh with all the other astronauts in terms of qualifications, right?Malaysia is a very young country. We have only recently passed the 50th Independance Day. Give it some time..will ya’?We cannot compare ourselves to older countries.They too were at one point like us.
Conclusion: I wish Malaysian would try and be abit more positive.
72 KH 11 October 2007 @ 5:41 pm
There is a chasm of cognitive dissonance when it comes to things like this for Malaysians. Are we all so star-struck by this event we have to PR-whore ourselves? Difficult, but truth be told. Apakah ini mentality rakyat Malaysia?
1) http://www.ukm.my/ukmportal/News/berita_angkasawan2.html reads “Program Angkasawan Negara itu adalah persetujuan timbal-balik pembelian 18 jet pejuang Sukhoi SU-30 MKM bernilai RM3.4 bilion dari Rusia dan ditandatangani pada 5 Ogos 2003.” (This means buy 1kg, free 100 grams and bowl with flowers la).
2) juslo:1 dolmat: 0
3) tanpadia: apakah you know ryk Malaysia tak berbincang-berdebat-berinteraksi mengenai universe? Ramai yg curious ttg semua ni but do we get a shread of stimuli from national programs? (Hint: we have a relatively beautiful Planetarium but I usually see more gardeners there than anyone else).
4) Habuk pun tarak, what is there to say? So many well qualified and brilliant Malaysians and this is our finest candidate? What are these people smoking? http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition16/index.html
(I’d rather NOT be listed than standing next to those real astronauts/cosmonauts)
5) Russian envoy confirms that Malaysian is not a ‘mere passenger’ should be re-written as Russian envoy confirms that Malaysian is not a ‘mere passenger’ but also “the cook” (He REALLY wants to try our zero-gravity-roti-canai-teh-tarik-combo. Who’s to say he can’t sneak in prepared ones in this age of aluminium foil? That space suit looks like it’s got more pockets than my Dockers(tm).
and much, much more. But i need to go home now to sayang my girlfriend. Syabas to those here who have clarity and to those still delusional, well, I suggest a good burger and a warm glass of milk. Exercise helps too.
73 Junaidi Nordin 17 October 2007 @ 4:18 am
The reasons people have enthusiasm is because of future not past, motivated because of opportunity not failure, developed because of positive thinking not negative narrow minded.
We sent our Angkasawan to space based on bilateral agreement with the Russians upon purchasing 18 units of Sukhoi-30 MKM jet fighters.
It was considered a very good bargain on behalf of the Malaysian government spearheaded by our leader at that time – Prime Minister Tun Mahathir, continued & supported by our current leader PM Dato’ Seri Abdullah and MOSTI.
First of all, SU-30 MKM have state of the art avionics and thrust vectoring and among the world’s best flanker jet fighter around. Couple that with the opportunity to explore space technology albeit thru space orbiting – it was undoubtedly the best deal money can get. For this mission Soyuz TMA-11, expedition-16, The Russians fully sponsored and funded the cost of sending Dr. Sheikh.
People might say that we can get better discount if those arrangement is not in place. Do you believe we can get RM76 million discount?
For a fraction of that, Malaysian government have instill beliefs in our mind that nothing is impossible, we can achieve great things if we want, a country with civilized and succesful citizen and surely an avenue where young malaysians can be proud of.
On the issues of poverty and inefficiency of basic amenities…do you think that Russians and the U.S. do not have that kind of people living in poverty right now. Open your eyes, dont just believe what you’ve seen on TV about the posh cosmopolitan being portrait. They also have homeless people living under the poverty line.
People ask why not having rocket launch pad as in Baikonur in Malaysia so that we can be considered as space nation? Do they have that in Moscow? Did the european countries have that too?
Russians used South Kazakhstan (The best launch site within Soviet Union at that time)and European (Arianne Space) used French Guiana – located on the Atlantic Ocean between Brazil and Suriname for their launchpad. That was because the entry to orbit have to be nearer to the equator line because the earth moves faster near the equator and that velocity will help hurtle heavier payloads into space.
And lastly the debate on space flight participants? an articke from WIFR.COM clearly mentioned that Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor took his end of training exam on Tuesday, together with other members of the 16th ISS crew, who are due to fly to the ISS and the state commission was satisfied with the results of the examination, which the astronauts sat at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, known as Star City, the high-tech training centre 35 kilometers from Moscow.
Korzun emphasized that the Malaysian crew member would not be a space tourist but was a fully trained astronaut in his own right, and both Shukor and bin Khaleed were well prepared to take on the mission, saying he had no doubts about their readiness for the flight.
Even U.S. astronauts that has been invited by our media said that Dr. Sheikh was considered as astronauts in his own right and NASA refuses to admit that as they were trying to protect newer countries such as Malaysia to propel in space exploratory and research works. He said, he knew that cause he had been with NASA for years.
Let’s be positive. We’re Malaysians and we should be proud of it.
74 Jerry Mcquirie 17 October 2007 @ 11:23 am
One of the scientific experiment is to study “spinning top” in zero gravity.
I heard that this is one of the important study?
Can anyone tell me what is the value of doing this?
75 NANA 18 October 2007 @ 4:03 am
Hey, juslo you are soo good, maybe gov
should send you to space instead.
Maybe Dr Sheikh is not good enoughhhhhhhhhhh
Juslo want a scientistttttttttttttttttt
Dr sheikhh is stupiddddddddddd
he donno how to any medical researchhhhhhhhhhh
juslo can do ittttttttttttttt
juslo is the besttttttttttttttttttttt
juslo knows besttttttttttttttttttt
bla bla bla bla blaaaaaaaaaaa……
Stop humiliating yourself dude, he is the best among the 11 000 applicants. duh!
76 juslo 19 October 2007 @ 12:15 pm
NANA,
it’s people like u – who cant tell the difference between a pilot n a passenger, who doesnt care about the difference between buying a jumbo jet n building it with your own technology – that the government is trying to fool.
judging by your response, they’ve been very successful.
Junaidi,
yes, hope n aspiration is fine, motivation is good.
but one day, when some of our deeply inspired kids grow up (believing that malaysia is a distinguished ‘member of the space club’ n bragging about it to all their overseas friends all his teenage years) n found out that we actually BOUGHT our space trip instead of BUILDING it, who found out that actually sheikh is not a fully-fledged astronaut by a mere tourist – the EMBARRASSMENT & DISILLUSION would do more DAMAGE to their self-confidence n bring SHAME to them, don’t u think????
how is this ‘positive’ n condusive to their character development as an adult?
say u admire raja nazrin for graduating from oxford & harvard, the best of the best universities in our world today, but later find out that he actually (just using this as an example as he’s very popular at the moment, i’m NOT suggesting this is in any way true about his highness!!!) BOUGHT those 2 degrees instead of GRADUATING on his own merits – the respect is not the same (if there’s any of that left…) isn’t it?
n before u found out about that, u’ve been praising him as if he’s the best human being since the prophet mohammed, u even wrote poems about him, wear t-shirts with his face on them n buy every book he writes… how do u feel when the BUBBLE FINALLY BURST???
now THAT’s what our kids r going through at the moment, thanks to our very mature government, who’s been selling pariah as prada.
i for 1 would not want my kids to believe in a hero whom i knew, FROM the very beginning (thanks to Aisehman), is just full of zerooooooooooooossssss (7 to b exact, for rm90,000,000).
would YOU?
77 NANA 20 October 2007 @ 12:17 am
Juslo.. im a fool yeah?
Yeah!! juslo is the best.. everyone is stupiddddddddddddddddd…
they not graduated from the harvard and oxford,
they bought all those degrees…
they got no honor…
juslo is the only one got everything..
honor,oxford,harvard degrees and shit,
Juslo is the greatttttttttttest
im a result of poor gov..
Juslo is the result of hate..
But, Juslo is the greattttttttttttttt
yeah yeah yeah bla bla bla
jusloo wheres the loo? i need to pee..
What is your contribution to this country anyway?
i say… NONE!!
Shame on you juslo!!!
78 Patriotic Malaysian 20 October 2007 @ 3:37 pm
Thanks to people whose mentality are like NANA that enable BN (UMNO) to continue ruling Malaysia and fooling the masses.
These are people who’ll swallow whole ‘hook, line and sinker’, without giving deep thought to any issue spin-doctored by the Government.
But, we thank Almighty God for creating also people who exercise their brain decently and are able to discern between right and wrong as well as truth and falsehood.
79 kucau 21 October 2007 @ 12:16 am
i wonder if this “juslo creature” have any idea about the research conducted by sheikh. did he ever know know about protein crystallization and the related scientific facts bout it, behaviour of osteoblast/osteoclast in micro gravity and the relation to future potential treatment of osteoporosis. well, juslo. lemme tell you some of it; the osteoblast ( mumbo jumbo for your primitive brain )and the research conducted is very well related to medical field and very suited to be conducted by someone from medical field. im very sad , in this hitech era , there are someone from malaysian with pre darwinian brain.
80 dolmat 22 October 2007 @ 10:13 am
What ever it is… he bring down his experiments back to earth… Now we look at our self.. whether we are ready to expose his magnificent space experiences/research or.. we just stand still and wait outsiders giving an answer? To some ppl it is nothing, but it is still a knowledge. Do you think outside ppl share 100% knowledge to you? Luckly we have our own scientist have an opportunity to expose everything explicit and implicit. All the experiments must be send to Japan and US(*if i’m not mistaken)as well. Even they also interested to get what you call “nothing”. Why aa?
81 juslo 22 October 2007 @ 3:05 pm
Aisehman,
can’t believe this debate has gone on for almost a month now. this would b my last comment as my primitive pre-darwinian brain have got nothing more to say after this, thanks.
NANA,
yes, i’m the ‘greatest’!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yes, shame on me!!!!!!!!!!!
(obviously, u can only accept a “yes man’s” answer. so there u go.)
kucau & dolmat,
by focusing on his research only, u’ve been trying to DISTRACT our attention – we r debating what it means to b a real astronaut & spaceflight participant.
i NEVER said sheikh’s research is valueless or means nothing. i think NOBODY here has ever dismissed the value of his experiments. honestly, i’m very sure it’s going to b very beneficial to many people. but what do i know, this “juslo creature” with a “pre-darwinian brain”.
but if your main purpose is to get the results of the expriments, WHY COULDN’T WE SPEND LESS by paying someone else (real astronaut, or even other spaceflight participants) who’s going to take a space trip anyway, to do the research for us??? if someone in the medical field is required, fine, we pay a real astronaut who’s experienced in that field to do it, y not??
has anybody actually tried to get some real astronaut to do it n find out how much would that cost?? i don’t think so – bcos the experiments/research were NEVER the main goal.
heikh is a PRACTISING PHYSICIAN, NOT a medical biologist/scientist in that field, mind u. so, doing research work (n modelling…) is NOT his specialty – there r many more who could do it better than him. so, the fact that even a non-specialist researcher could b chosen to do the experiment obviously shows that the technical ability to do this kind of research was NOT a main criteria in the selection of candidates.
fyi, the ‘backup angkasawan’ is a dentist, not a physician.
http://www.angkasawan.com.my/mainatsb/atsb/about_angkasawan.html
n here’s what the ‘angkasawan’ themselves say are the ‘criteria’ for being chosen. note that the ability to do the research was NEVER A REQUIREMENT.
http://www.angkasawan.com.my/mainatsb/atsb/about_interview.html
“Q: Both of you, and two other candidates were selected among three thousand applicants. What were the requirements, and, in your opinion, what allowed you to reach the final selection?
Dr Sheikh: When I first applied for the space programme, *****I never knew what criteria they were looking for*****.
[Comments from juslo's primitive brain - errr.... how is this supposed to INSPIRE our kids, given that there's NO STANDARD of achievement to 'aspire' to???]
Honestly I knew I would go far but not upto the point where I would be chosen. *****Physical strength, health, psychological and mental strength***** are part of the criteria that is required to separate yourself from others.
[Comments from juslo's primitive brain - if i fail all my spm exams, but i've got all these 'strengths', i could still b an angkasawan, right??? so, y work so hard in my studies/passing my spm???? i'm now INSPIRED to just skip classes n go to gym instead!!!]
I must say that all the candidates who applied have a very positive attitude and I enjoyed being among them.
After mixing around with other cosmonauts in Star City, I came to a conclusion that an angkasawan should have the following:
*****
1. Fearless but fun at the same time
2. Determined , highly focus and skilled in all areas
3. Being able to work as a team and obeys command at the same time
4. To be able to think rationally and logically
5. Mental strength to overcome any obstacles.
6. Education preferably with a degree of science or engineering
7. Perfect health condition
*****
[Comments from juslo's primitive brain - alright, so now i have to pass my spm, but LOOK -at no.6: 'preferably with a degree of science or engineering'!!!!
1, NO NEED TO BE SKILLED IN DOING THAT KIND OF 'HIGHLY BENEFICIAL' EXPERIMENTS.
2, so, i can still study hard to b an USTAZ while taking some basic science/engineering courses, n i can still go to space n probably read out a fatwa in space - bcos it's only 'PREFERABLY', not mandatory!!!!?!?!!]
My wish is to inherit all these characteristics and learn as much as I could from these astronauts as I find the experiences are just too valuable. My role is to share all these experiences with Malaysians and hoping to inspire them.
*****I believe luck plays an important role in some ways*****.
[Comments from juslo's primitive brain - HOW INSPIRING!!!! now i should begin 'training' myself to b 'lucky' too, by buying 1 lottery ticket every week!!]
I truly believe in faith and destiny provided that we humans have done everything possible to achieve our dreams. I have put my life and soul for this angkasawan programme and am hoping for the best.
Q: What requirements must you meet to be at the ISS?
Dr Sheikh: The ISS is formed by the United States, Russia and 18 European countries and any astronaut who wishes to be on ISS has to be approved by these countries. *****Medical examinations are conducted every 3 months in Star City and you have to be certified medically fit*****. There are also lectures and trainings on spaceflight, space vehicle and the spacestation itself and examinations are conducted almost every 2 weeks to gauge your knowledge. Then there’s the aerochamber, centrifuge, spinning chair, winter and sea survival, not forgetting a detailed psychological tests. Training simulations with your crew in case of smoke, fire and depressurization plays an important role too. You are being assessed in every field before being certified to be able to plan a mission to ISS.
[Comments from juslo's primitive brain - no wonder they say u don't have to b a rocket scientist to become a space tourist. if a high school teacher or journalist or filthy rich businessman can pass all these tests, i'm sure i could too!!! i'm INSPIRED, once again.]
I take this cosmonaut profession very seriously. The ISS lies 402.34 km from earth and you need to be competent, capable and independent on conducting experiments by yourself as other cosmonauts are busy with their schedule. Lots of money is being spent on this mission and I surely would not want to dismay the Malaysians.
[Comments from juslo's primitive brain - eh, sheikh, u forgot the script lar!!! the trip is FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE lah... bodoh...]
It is a big responsibility I am carrying on my shoulder but it’s definitely worth it.”
[Comments from juslo's primitive brain - yeah, especially when YOU r not the one paying for it.]
therefore, ANYBODY could have been our angkasawan, not only doctors or dentists or peopel ’skilled in doing that kind of experiments.’
therefore, practically ANYONE among the real astronauts/cosmonauts from america & russia would have been able to do it for us, with some trainings or briefings from the malaysian ‘designers’ of those experiments of what results they want to b recorded.)
but obviously that’s not good enough for u people bcos that’s NOT your/government’s main goal, is it?
it has to b a malaysian up there, no matter how much it costs.
———————————————–
alright, my primitive pre-darwinian brain has run out of ‘piano songs’ to play for the ‘cows’ already, so if u still don’t get it, we’ll just have to agree to disagree. i’ll leave u to continue with your MIMPI Angkasa… good night & good luck!
82 juslo 22 October 2007 @ 3:19 pm
truly the last comment,
NANA, kucau, dolmat & gang:
check out the ’selection process’.
http://www.angkasawan.com.my/mainatsb/atsb/about_selection.html
Question: WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT YOUR ABILITY TO DO ‘EXPERIMENTS MAKE GREAT BENEFIT OF MANHOOD & MALAYSIA’ IS A REQUIREMENT?
————————————————
Event 1
3.5 km run in 20 minutes
27th August & 3rd September 2005
435 took part, 199 qualified
Event 2
Basic Medical Examination based on NASA Program Criteria (including eye examination and urine testing)
27th August & 3rd September 2005
194 were tested, 59 passed
Event 3
Aeromedical 1 (including blood, nose & ear, X-ray, heart (ECG) test)
25th & 30th September 2005
59 were tested, 27 passed
Event 4
Aeromedical 2 (including bone, air passage and centrifuge test)
16th & 21st January 2006
27 were tested, 18 passed
Event 5
Overall assessment based on performance in Events 1 & 4 and psychiatric, psychology, land and sea survival and technical competence.
16th 24th January 2006
10 were tested, 8 passed
Event 6
Medical Examination (including CT Scan, endoscopy and blood analysis)
25th & 26th January 2006
10 were tested, 8 passed
Event 7
Overall assessment based on performance in all the events covering all aspect in communication expertise, character, forwardness and determination.
February 2006, 8 were assessed, 4 will be sent to Moscow for further medical examination.
Event 8
Medical examination in Russia including neurology (brain) and body adaptation in microgravity environment).
March 2006, 4 tested, 2 selected for training.
Event 9
Training in Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Centre, Russia.
September 2006-October 2007
1 will be selected to fly to the International Space Station. The other will act as his back up
Event 10
October 2007
Blast off!
83 kewayzey 24 October 2007 @ 10:11 pm
oh dear God, what a sad thing indeed…
84 kewayzey 24 October 2007 @ 10:17 pm
hey! just read this from wikipedia!
“it should be noted that Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor is a Malaysian Astronaut who flew to the ISS under the Malaysia’s space programme (the Angkasawan Space Program), while the Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth, Gregory Olsen, Anousheh Ansari and Charles Simonyi are private individuals who paid for the trip with their own money through the Space Adventure program.”
and
“Speaking to Malaysian media outlets, Alexander Karchava, the Russian ambassador to Malaysia, stated that Sheikh Muszaphar is a “fully-fledged cosmonaut”. 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.”
85 adah 25 October 2007 @ 12:01 am
helo juslo..well two thumbs up for u..good comment dude..=)
86 kucau 25 October 2007 @ 1:00 pm
ok juslo, point taken. just one last comment from me. Science is like jigsaw puzzles. You never understand it completely till you complete the puzzle. In order to cover all aspect of science , Aeromedical or any space science must be acquired. Of course its expensive. dont tell me knowledge is cheap. We have to start from something . Sending our ppl to space is a step from maybe 1000 steps. Sending/hiring other ppl to do the experiment is simply a wrong thing todo ( do nasa offer their astronaut to any contry to do experiment in space for a fee? ). you will never conquer the knowledge.
87 cendawan 25 October 2007 @ 3:09 pm
For me ISS is just like a “Real Estate” business by US, Rusia and EU (part of it).
those who willing to stay for days have to pay the rent.
88 cendawan 25 October 2007 @ 3:24 pm
Dalam dunia ni atau kat malaysia sekali pun ada 3 golongan
1) golongan kaya
2) golongan pertengahan
3) golongan miskin.
Keluarga Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar ni tergolong dalam golongan 1) diatas.
kebanyakan penyumbang terbesar cukai kat malaysia ni adalah golongan 2) golongan pertengahan ( jurutera, doktor, dan profesiaonal lainnya)
golongan 3) adalah golongan miskin yang adakalanya dikecualikan cukai.
golongan kaya pun kena bayar cukai jugak tapi mereka pandai mengelak( maksud disini mana2 yg boleh elak mereka elak. bukan lari dari cukai).
Bukankah Allah memerintahkan kita supaya mengagihkan kekayaan secara saksama?. Wang seharusnya bertukar tangan antara yang berkemampuan kepada yang lebih memerlukan. Wang tidak seharusnya bertukar tangan antara yg kaya dgn yang kaya sahaja. tapi model sebergini jugak la yg berlaku skrg…
lebih memeritkan gologan 2) ni terpaksa menanggung cukai yang tidak boleh dielak. tidak seperti golongan 1) diatas. golongan 2) amat suka membayar cukai sekiranya ia diurus dengan lebih wajar.
89 Subsidies 26 October 2007 @ 11:58 am
The Prime Minister has said that the Government has enough money to send another Astronot to space in the near future.
Great. Then I’m sure it also means that the Government has enough money to maintain its current subsidies for the people (especially the poor), and THERE SHALL BE NO INCREASE IN THE PEOPLE’S NECESSITIES – ESPECIALLY PETROL – NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND.
Long live Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi!
90 Subsidies 26 October 2007 @ 12:00 pm
I mean, THERE MUST BE NO INCREASE IN PRICES!!
If you can afford to pay for joyrides to space, you must be able to pay for joyrides of the people on the roads in the first place.
91 dolmat 29 October 2007 @ 11:51 am
kacau! You re right man!
Not denying on unstable flows of funds, subsidies, politics etc. but…. focus on Malaysian Space Tourist Programme, sending what you call him a space tourist, creating a GOOD PROSPECT for FUTURE Generation. Even our mom n dad struggled to pay for our higher education. To see an educated human and BETTER FUTURE for their child.
This is my last comment.. as done by other debators
92 Boleh “participate” in space only | Critical Thoughts 31 October 2007 @ 8:25 pm
[...] If this is not an ego project, I do not know what is! Related posts: See here and here. Related PostsPersonalized wedding favors by menj on June 27th, 2007Gerakan’s call for the sacking [...]
93 Malaysiaku sayang hidup bahasa melayu 1 November 2007 @ 10:58 pm
Bagi saya semua pihak yang memberi komen negatif kepada misi angkasawan 2007 adalah golongan yng bermindakan kelas ketiga.sepatutnya berbangga dengan kejayaan misi ini tetapi sibuk membantah,komen yang buruk2.Sebarkan fitnah yang tidak elok.Saya berbangga dengan kejayaan dr.sheikh muszaphar dan semua yang terlibat dalam misi angkasawan 2007.malaysia boleh!jgn pedulikan golongan kelas ketiga.!malaysia cemerlang,gemilang,terbilang.
94 cendawan 9 November 2007 @ 3:24 pm
Apa kata kita (Msia) buat collaboration atau usahasama yang lebih menguntungkan. Tidak hanya pergi untuk 11 hari sahaja!
Contohnya, kalau ada peluang kerjasama yg semacam membina shutter sendiri. Kita ada kepakaran kan…
untuk pergi ke ISS yg jaraknya hanya lebih kurang 300KM dari aras laut. (macam JB-KL sahaja)
untuk itu sebenarnya bukan seorang “angkasawan” sahaja yg terlibat. cuba fikir…. Kita boleh develop teknologi sendiri (tak kisallah copy ke ape ke yg penting kalau copy pun buat lagi sempurna) wei org jepun pun copy jugak la… tapi kene la ada inovatif.
Kita kan ada kepakaran kita.. banyak jurutera-jurutera kita yang berbakat tapi selalunya mereka2 tak boleh pergi jauh… banyak yg menyekat mereka. mungkin sistem kita yang agak “loko” perlu diperbaiki ni….
Support la mereka-mereka yang berkemampuan bersaing. Bukan mereka-meraka yang hanya pandai meng”ali-baba”kan sahaja.
Pada hemat saya….
Saya ambil contoh dalam pembuatan kereta. adakah kita perlu berbangga jika kita hanya pandai memandu kereta sahaja tanpa mengetahui ilmu tentang engine kereta? ilmu pasal rekabentuk kereta. ilmu pasal tayar kereta, ilmu pasal bahan api kereta, ilmu pasal interior dalaman kereta, ilmu pasal keselamatan penumpang dalam kereta, ilmu pasal stereng, ilmu pasal aircond dan pelbagai ilmu2 yg berkaitan tentang kereta…
Tidaklah kita hanya tahu hantar kereta ke pusat service ( kalau pandai tak la kita tertipu klu ter beli barangan pada harga yang tidak sepatutnya).
Siapa yang kaya sebenarnya? orang yang membuat/ menjual/ menyewakan kereta atau orang yang beli kereta atau orang yang naik teksi sahaja dan bayar tambang?
Untuk jadi rakyat yang bermindakan kelas pertama, kita harus memiliki minda yang rajin berusaha…. Tidak mudah berpuas hati dengan apa yang ada. Tidak malas. Rajin mencari ilmu yang bermanfaat. Tidak menipu diri sendiri. Bekerja mencari rezeki yang halal ( tidak mengular).
Saya begitu menyokong misi angkasa malaysia (bukan misi angkasawan malaysia). Misi angkasa haruslah melibatkan ramai kepakaran (ambil analogi mcm bina kereta diatas).
Saya harap komen saya tidak negatif.. kerana saya percaya. kalau misi angkasa yang berjaya malaysia yang akan datang saya merupakan anak tempatan yang
boleh menyumbang kepakaran walaupun terlalu sedikit. Ataupun kalau kita sendiri tak menghargai kepakaran tempatan. Terpaksala saya menjualnya kepada orang luar.
ps: satu pertanyaan saya kalau ada sesiapa boleh jawap.. macam mana mereka yg duduk kat ISS tu buang air besar?.
kat ISS tu diaorang ada buat graviti tiruan tak? (cth mcm ada satu ruang yang berputar pada satu paksi untuk merasa sedikit daya graviti)
Org russia dulu masa misi percubaan ke angkasa sekitar 50an mereka hantar Seekor anjing sebagai angkawan pertama dunia) ini barulah dinamakan misi
kerana setiap misi, macam experimen kita tak nk risiko terlalu tinggi (kehilangan modal insan adalah terlalu mahal).
China pernah buat shutter sendiri buat kali pertama dekat yang lalu, tapi meletup kat pertengahan jalan. ( ps: kebanyakan produk china adalah produk tiru bulat2 he he he) tu yang meletup tu….
95 kent 13 November 2007 @ 5:03 pm
immature thoughts schemed by immature propaganda conquer immature minds.
1st thing…. they have the sukhoi deal 1st, THEN they think up of something to do with the spaceflight. at 1st they thought of roti canai spinning, gasing spin, tarian traditional etc.
They DONT do it because THERE IS SOME SCIENTIFIC research to be done. They do it becoz they pay the russian more than they need to.
2nd thing being….even after we send 50 or 500 Sheikh Muszaphar Shukors to space using a USA/Russian/chinese rocket, trust me….that wont make us the next space power a tiny bit. It will be a pure space tourism for the selected few.
Korea, HK, japan, australia, swiss, germany each and every of this country can develop such technology. what holding them back? cos its a retardly expensive endeavors. they rather spend money where it feeds the mouth or generate huge returns.
Only naive people will believe we are going to be the next spaceclub country. Why we do this? i think the election is quite near and lotsa malaysian would like to believe we are located right at the centre of the earth and of coz all this involves millions of $$$.
96 Ali 23 November 2007 @ 9:09 am
Hey JUSLO!….another thing you might add in the angkasawan selection…
WHOSE FATHER HAS THE MOST MONEY TO INFLUENCE THE MALAYSIA SELECTION COMMITTE THEN INFLUENCE THE RUSSIAN TRAINING COMMITTEE….heheh
Have anybody heard? Major Faiz has been assaulted yesterday….how convenient to “tetak” his limbs…just to make sure he`s out for the next angkasawan Programme….
Wow ! I have another conspiracy ideas.What if it is intentionally (rompakan) done? Why hey even the first angkasawan selection is not “telus”…What if a Bookie from selection committe wants to fail Major Faiz so that another group of selection would be made? And of course whose dad have the most money will make sure his son`s or daughter selected….Another “anak Datuk” perhaps? Anything is possible in Malaysia….
heheheheh
97 juslo 26 November 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Ali,
yes, anything’s possible in malaysia.
seriously, i never thought about ‘that’ angle. but i dont want to get too personal. to me, anybody they pick is the same, still a tourist, so i won’t go so far to accuse that kind of thing…
98 albert skoope 27 November 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Malaysia dont have real space programme, dont develope anything in avionics, communications, ballistics etc, only have lots of money 2 burn.
To go 2 space, Malaysian have expertise or can JV at cost around 10-20% cost of the tourist mission. Space only 90km or so, use small roket ship strapped on modeified boeing is achievable. Better then teh tarik, can bring durian on ship, ISS n shuttle definately no durian on board.
99 Wiki 7 December 2007 @ 7:51 am
Hi everyone,
Something strange is happening at Wikipedia.
I’ve tried to add something to this page:
Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Muszaphar_Shukor
to show that there were controversies surrounding his space travel, adding a summary of the dissenting voices here, but the next day, all my additions are gone!
Then, I’ve also tried to link this page “Astro Not!” in the same page, but the next day, all my links are also gone! Looks like someone has been ‘guarding’ (meaning, censoring!!) the wikipedia page…
100 BMalaya 7 February 2008 @ 9:10 am
Re:wiki
Same thing with the Mawi page. You try as much as to state there are people who don’t think of him in favourable terms and it gets deleted.
Kesian betul to those Malays who feel the need to protect their idols habis-habisan. When the religion / prophet gets insulted tak kata apa-apa pulak…
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