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Muszaphar became the ninth Muslim to cross the 100-km boundary above Earth, considered to be the defining line for outer space.
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CAIRO — Muslim Asian heavyweight Malaysia is celebrating the return of its first ever astronaut from space, hoping this would inspire present and future generations to strive for greater endeavors in all fields, the New Straits Times reported Monday, October 22.
"This is a very momentous and historic occasion for Malaysia," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, who followed the landing from the Russian mission control center in Moscow, told reporters.
"It will go down in the annals of our history because this is a first for Malaysia in space and he has returned safely."
Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, a 35-year-old orthopaedic surgeon and university lecturer, returned to Earth on Sunday, October 21, after 11 days in space.
He and two Russian cosmonauts touched down safely at 1043 GMT in Kazakhstan.
Muszaphar's parents were among the cheering Malaysian contingent at mission control.
When the craft landed, applause broke out in the viewing balcony.
His mother, Datin Zuraida Sheikh Ahmad, was crying with relief as she sat next to her husband, Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Sheikh Abdul Shukor.
Muszaphar spoke to his father over a borrowed mobile phone.
"Abah (father in the Malay language), it's Mus. I'm back safe and sound. Everything's fine," Mustapha recounted.
Muszaphar trained for over a year at Moscow's Star City before he left for the mission on October 10 with American Peggy Whitson, the new commander on the ISS, and a Russian Yuri Malenchenko.
The practicing Muslim celebrated the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the space station and carried out experiments for Malaysia's Genome Institute.
Historic
Najib, who followed the landing from the Russian mission control center in Moscow, praised this as an historic moment.
"The entire mission will be a landmark voyage for Malaysia," he said.
"The intangible benefit is, as a nation, Malaysians feel very proud that we can stand a few inches taller now that we have had a Malaysian travel in space."
Malaysian leaders see the space flight as a milestone for the country which celebrated this year a half-century of independence from British colonial rule.
Muszaphar was chosen from 11,000 candidates and underwent more than a year of training at Moscow's Star City.
He became the ninth Muslim to cross the 100-km boundary above Earth, considered to be the defining line for outer space.
Najib said Malaysia would assess the success of the mission, not only in terms of how Muszaphar fared physically but also the scientific experiments carried out in space.
"The tangible benefits would be ascertained from our analysis of the scientific experiments conducted and results achieved and whether they would lead to commercialization," he said.
Among other experiments, Muszaphar examined the impact of microgravitation on the coordination of eye and head movements and the evolution of cancerous cells in weightless conditions.
Najib said his government has until the end of 2009 to decide if it wants to accept an offer from the Russian Space Agency for another Malaysian to journey to the International Space Station (ISS) in late 2010 or early 2011.
Muszaphar's trip was part of a billion-dollar purchase of 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets from Russia.
"Since the next expedition would involve public funds, the government would have to convince the public of the need of the mission."
The Muslim-majority Asian giant, which has already launched Southeast Asia's first space center, is planning to send its first astronaut to the Moon by 2020.
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