Muszaphar and his back-up Faiz will perform a year-long training program in Russia to qualify them as professional astronauts. (Reuters)

KUALA LUMPUR — A Malaysian doctor was chosen on Monday, September 4, as the Muslim country's first astronaut to travel to space in September 2007.

"I feel honored and blessed to be picked," Muszaphar Shukor told reporters, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

"I've always dreamt to go to space since I was 10 years old. My favorite TV programs have been Star Trek and the Star Wars movies."

Muszaphar, an orthopedic doctor and a trainee lecturer in medicine with the National University of Malaysia, was chosen to blast off on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and visit the International Space Station in September 2007.

Army dentist Faiz Khaleed, 26, was also picked up as the back-up astronaut.

"I pray to God that he will ensure the success of your mission and raise the profile of Malaysia in the international arena," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said at a ceremony to announce the winners.

The pair came from a short list of four -- three men and one woman -- who spent a month in Russia undergoing tests to choose the best contender.

They were picked up from nearly 12,000 Malaysians who applied for the space program launched by the Malaysian National Space Agency (ANGKASA) in 2003.

Extensive Training

The pair will leave for Russia by the end of September for a year-long training program to qualify them as professional astronauts.

Muszaphar said the one-year stint would see the pair undergo survival training in difficult conditions such as wintry climes, at sea and in the jungle.

They will also learn how to conduct research and experiments in space.

Only one Malaysian astronaut will be chosen to rocket into space.

Muszaphar's father, 70-year-old Sheikh Mustapha Shukor, said the mission was dangerous but that "we allowed him because this is his desire."

"Now that he is a representative of the nation, he must remain humble and carry the flag of Malaysia," he said.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Jamaluddin Jarjis said the launch date for the space travel would be September 2 next year.

He said that the launch date will fall near the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence and mark 40 years of diplomatic ties with Russia.

"This is an historic day as Malaysia celebrates its 50th independence anniversary. This date also commemorates Malaysia-Russian ties," he said.

The agreement to send a Malaysian aboard Russian spacecraft was part of a billion-dollar deal to buy 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets.

Malaysia hopes the space project will be an inspiration for Muslims across the globe and recall the glory days of Muslim science and discovery.

Malaysia has said it was planning to send its first astronaut to the Moon by 2020.

Malaysian Culture

During the space journey, the Malaysian astronaut will seek to make the country's favorite hot drink, teh tarik, in space.

"The physics experiment is to see what happens to teh tarik in space," said Haniff Omar, head of Malaysia's astronaut selection program.

Making teh tarik (pulled tea) can be tricky and dangerous, even with the help of gravity, Reuters said.

Malaysians pour boiling-hot milky tea swiftly and repeatedly from one vessel held high in one hand into another held low, producing a distinctive layer of froth.

"It's great. It is one of the symbols in Malaysia. The Italians introduced pizza in space," said runner-up Faiz Khaleed.

"I think this is a good idea also to bring something from our country so the world can learn something about our country."

Malaysia offers the image of a model Muslim country, heading towards the status of developed nation with huge buildings, beautiful cities and a fast track economy.

Abdullah launched in March an ambitious development plan for Malaysia to become the first developed Muslim nation by 2020.