First Malaysian in space By JANE RITIKOS BAIKONUR (Kazakhstan): At exactly 9.23pm (Malaysian time), the Soyuz -FG rocket launcher blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The rocket launcher, carrying the Soyuz TMA-II spacecraft with Malaysian cosmonaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and his crew members on board, lit up the clear night sky. Witnesses to the event from the launch view, three kilometres away from the launch pad, felt the ground shake from the enormous thrust of the launcher. VIPs and guests who witnessed the launch included Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s proud parents Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Shukor and Datin Zuraida Sheikh Ahmad. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, Nasa’s commander Peggy Whitson - the first female International Space Station (ISS) commander - and Russian Yuri Malechencko comprise Expedition 16S, which will make a trip to the ISS and return on Oct 21. Some two hours before the launch, all communication systems (telephone lines, mobile telephone lines and TV) were cut off in Baikonur to block the airwaves and ensure contact with the crew was not disrupted in any way. A blackout was also experienced as the power supply was drained by the launch. During the launch, road and rail traffic were also halted as a safety measure. The crews' big day began when they walked out of the Cosmonaut Hotel, which is not a guest hotel but actually a branch of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre where they were quarantined. They boarded a bus that took them to the launch pad, seven hours prior to the launch. On the bus, they watched a 10-minute video of their friends and families wishing them bon voyage. The bus stopped midway for a ritual that has been performed by cosmonauts since the time of Yuri Gagarin – the male crew urinated on the bus tyres. At the launch pad, they made their “last walk”, which was the last chance for family members and people to see them from a distance at the Cosmodrome. The three put on their custom-made Sukol space suit before they went through a formal military ceremony and shook hands with important guests, including the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Russian Federal Space Agency chief Perminov Anatoli Nikolaevich, Kazakh Space Agency chief Musabaev Talgat Amangeldievish and Malaysian Ambassador to Russia Datuk Mohamad Khalis Ali Hassan. About four hours to the launch, the crew were hoisted to the capsule using an elevator. They were strapped to their seats and went through system checks. Forty-five minutes to the launch, the rocket’s service gantry was removed, the flight programme loaded and the crews' space suits were checked for air tightness. Unlike a shuttle launch, the Soyuz rocket launch has no countdown - blast off occurs when everything is in place and set to go. The rocket’s four lateral boosters were started 29 seconds to launch. Then it was blast off, during which the gravity pull was 4G. The rocket shot up at a speed of 800km per second to reach orbit in two minutes. Two minutes into launch, the four lateral boosters were jettisoned, and the gravity pull was reduced to 1.5G. When the core stage engine fired at full thrust, gravity force climbed to 3G. Third-stage separation occurred at 8.48 seconds into launch, when the space capsule was fully separated. It took about nine minutes for Soyuz to enter zero gravity, after which it will orbit the earth for two days before docking with the ISS, a process that will take two to three hours. Prior to docking, the cosmonauts will be strapped to their seats the entire time. Once in orbit, the mission will be taken over by the Mission Control Centre in Moscow.
I don't want to put down on this achievement but I think building the rocket is a lot more notable Malaysia Boleh project than sending a cosmonaut on a Russian-made vessel. Still, he's doing what all others can only dream of - reach for the stars.
kemosabe, my friend, that is why we said, progress of achievements. dont know how to serve properly in badminton, want to learn jumping smash already.... slow down... work/achievement in progress...
On the other hand, a variable magnetic plasma ion engine might generate enough delta V to reach over 1,000 km/sec.
Second Space Race It seems a second space race is going on now. Unlike the cold war era, more than national prestige is at stake. The use of GEO, Moon and solar system resources are up for graps.
To make a rocket is not going to be easy. You need to have tech know how, expertise and high level resources. I suggest we make the largest tosai or popiah. Much easier and hassle free.
That is always going to be the case, heya? Tech know how is always going to be exportable to those who can afford it but rocket technology might not be easy to buy since it can be adapted to make ballistic missiles... I'll prefer if the cash is put into acquiring cheap and clean atomic energy. Or just improve the public transport system! No way Jose, I'm an apam guy.
Improve transport system?? Too long to implement and too much headache. Easier to have a big cook out and make either the world largest roti canai or tosai or apam.
to those who missed the 1st malaysian to space yesterday, juz click here to see the Soyuz-FG rocket launcher blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.
Honestly, it will be difficult to improve anything when corruption and abuse of power are so rampant.
Its like shouting "I can do it" (Malaysia Boleh) after finish solving for a no-brainer math question in a class full of expert mathematician.......... i will not live to see that......it's like playing against brazil in world cup final...... that's why you shouldnt show off when you just know how to crawl..........I dont think Malaysia have reached that state of crawling yet, IMO it's just between opening eyes and calling "mama" only. damn you are so funny............hahahahahhaahah !!!! They will just say that it is not in the government's budget to improve the transport system..........but we have the budget of making big roti canai........then show "Malaysia Boleh"!!! Long live Malaysia Boleh !!!
Here's a joke on our Angkasawan project from another blog: About 10 years ago, Dr M wanted to send a Malaysian into the space in the spirit of ‘Malaysia Boleh’. He went to see Clinton for help. You see, unlike today, there was no space tourist program at that time, neither in Russia, America nor China. And Dr M was not willing to pay USD 900 million to buy the 18 Sukhois from the Russians at that point of time. Clinton was very generous. He said, ” no problem, Mr prime minister. Give us a Malaysian and we will send him or her to the space, FOC. Just make sure he or she must be healthy and fit. And do not simply touch the buttons when he was up there”. “OK”, replied Dr M. What more could he asked for? Soon after he returned to malaysia, he advertised in the papers for the selection of the first Malaysian ‘Angkasawan’ a.k.a ‘Tumpangnaut’ a.k.a ’Astrocannot’. And he decided to interview the potential candidates personally. Thousands of Malaysians, men and women, turned up for the selection. The first interviewee was an Indian man from Sg Siput. He told Dr M how patriotic he was and he was willing to die for the country. But he asked for a fee of RM1 million. Dr M was puzzled. He asked him, ” why do you need one million ringgit?” “Oh, Mr prime minister. In case something happens to me, my wife would have some money to carry on with her life.” He was sent back to wait for the letter. Then came the next interviewee. He’s a Malay man from Kinbatangan. He too told Dr M how patriotic he was and he too was willing to die for the country. But he asked for 2 million ringgit. Why? “Because I have two wives.” That’s reasonable. He too was sent back to wait for the result. A knock on the door and here comes the Chinese man. He came from Labis, Johor. He also talked about how patriotic he was but he never promises to die for the country. But he still asked for money. Guess how much? 3 million ringgit! Dr M was furious. This man asked for 3 million, and he was not even willing to die for the country! He sent him out immediately and told the man not to come back again. The man stood up and headed for the door. As he was walking out, he murmured something softly. But Dr M somehow has heard him rather clearly. ” Come back, gentleman. And please take a seat”. You see, there was a sudden change of heart on the part of Dr M. ” Ok. Tell me, why do you need 3 million ringgit ?” ” One million for you, and one million for me. Another one million, I will give it to the Indian man. Let him go to the space.”
crawl --> walk --> run --> produce (Russia, USA, France, China etc) ' ' ' '---->------>------>------->-------->buy ticket to space (Msia Boleh!) Thats our Malaysia style la. No need to properly set up space research and development, just buy ticket and go to space right away.
Hey, Why give Malaysia's Automotive Industry another form of competition when they are already having to deal with other Car manufacturers... Automobile market is big business in Malaysia. Can't have all the buyers switching to public transport can we??? what would happen to all the sales revenue, sales tax and etc...
