The Astronaut 👤

Everyone on this earth has it own idol. Idol can also be define as a person that we want to follow, inspired with their achievements, wealth or success. As for me, the one and only astronaut from Malaysia Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie Bin Sheikh Mustapha is my idol. Apart from being the first astronaut in Malaysia, he is also an orthopaedic surgeon. On 10^th October 2007 he launced to International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-11 with the other 16 crews. He flew under Angkasawan Programme and return to earth on 21^st October 2007.

As for his background, this gentlemen was born on 27^th July 1972 and raised in Kuala Lumpur. He was the product of MRSM Muar. Besides that, he earned  a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.

I adore him for his intelligence and as a succesful person. Sheikh Muszaphar and three other finalists were selected at the beginning of 2006 for the Malaysian Angkasawan spaceflight program. The program arose after Russia agreed to transport one Malaysian to the ISS as part of a multi-billion purchase of 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets by Malaysia. After completing initial training at Star City in Russia, Sheikh Muszaphar and Faiz Khaleed were selected to undergo an 18-month training program in Russia, at the end of which Sheikh Muszaphar was chosen as the prime crew member, while Faiz Khaleed served as back-up. Following the final medical tests and training examinations, on 17 September, it was announced that Sheikh Muszaphar would be flying on the Soyuz TMA-11 mission.

Do you have any idea on what he was doing up there? Sheikh Muszaphar performed experiments on board the International Space Station relating to the characteristics and growth of liver cancer and leukaemia cells, the crystallisation of various proteins and microbes in space.

The experiments relating to liver cancer, leukaemia cells and microbes will benefit general science and medical research, while the experiments relating to the crystallisation of proteins, lipases in this case, will directly benefit local industries. Lipase are a type of protein enzymes used in the manufacturing of a diverse range of products from textiles to cosmetics, and the opportunity to grow these in space will mean a possibility for Malaysian scientists to take a crack at an industry worth some USD2.2bil (MYR7.7bil) worldwide by producing these locally.

Has he inspired you? Thats all from me. Thank you