Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's first astronaut created national history when he blasted off on board a Russian rocket into space Wednesday, marking a first for the nation which tuned in to watch the historic event live on television. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor took off for the International Space Station (ISS) on board a Soyuz-FG rocket, adorned with the Malaysian flag, from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Sheikh Muszaphar, 35, was shortlisted from more than 10,000 hopeful candidates during a nationwide search beginning in 2003, to become Malaysia's first astronaut.
Muszaphar, who is single and a doctor by profession, was joined by US Commander Peggy Whitson and Russian flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko.
At the ISS, Sheikh Muszaphar is to experiment with microbes of tropical diseases and with proteins for a potential HIV vaccine, and study the effects of microgravity and space radiation on cancer cells and human genes.
"I wish to congratulate him. I'm very happy that our man has been chosen for this special mission into space," said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"I hope he'll do well."
"I'm sure the Russians know best after having conducted the test. They have done everything they could to ensure that the person who is finally selected for the mission will be the one who is capable of performing the task that is assigned to him," he said.
Abdullah, along with scores of other ministers, government officers and members of the public, planned to watch the blastoff live from the capital Kuala Lumpur.
The mission coincides with the last days of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, where Muslims are required to fast and pray.
However, religious authorities and a government minister has said that Sheikh Muszaphar would not be compelled to fast while in space for the 10-day mission.
"When you travel there is no compulsion to fast," said Science Minister Jamaluddin Jarjis.
However, Sheikh Muszaphar has said he intends to fast in space and was keen to share his experiences with other Muslims upon his return.
Just hours before the blastoff, Malaysia's King Mizan Zainal Abidin said the mission would boost the progressive mainly-Muslim nation in the area of science and innovation.
"I'm happy and proud because Dr Sheikh Muszaphar will be the first Malaysian to go into space.
"This is a truly historic moment for all Malaysians, especially in view of the fact that we just celebrated the 50th anniversary of our independence," the king said at a function, marking the launch.
Wednesday's blastoff has cost the government 25 million dollars, an amount that is partly offset by the country's purchase of 18 Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets in a 900-million-dollar deal in 2003.
Sheikh Muszaphar, who had undergone months of training in Russia, is due to return with two Russian members of the current space station crew.
