Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, a doctor and part-time model, is to take off for the International Space Station (ISS) with Russian cosmonaut Yury Malenchenko and American Peggy Whitson.

Launch parties and activities are being held across Malaysia to mark the country's first foray into space.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be joined by some 280 students to watch a live broadcast of the launch of the Russian spacecraft.

Abdullah will also hold a teleconference with Muszaphar once he is settled in the ISS on October 14, the Utusan daily said Tuesday.

The education ministry has selected six students who will travel to Russia and chat live by satellite with Muszaphar while he is on his mission.

Newspapers this week have been abuzz with news and comment about the mission, as citizens embraced the idea of having one of their own in space.

Muszaphar has attracted interest with a promise that, if possible, he will observe the fasting regime of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan while on the space station.

Malaysian religious authorities have prepared guidelines on how to practice Islam in space. The station circles the Earth 16 times each calendar day, which would technically mean having to pray 80 times every 24 hours.

Muszaphar was chosen from thousands of hopefuls and underwent more than a year of training at Moscow's Star City.

The project was conceived in 2003 when Russia agreed to send a Malaysian to the space station as part of a billion-dollar purchase of 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets.

earlier related report
Malaysian hopes space trip will get him closer to God
Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor said on Tuesday he hopes to get closer to God when he ventures to the stars this week during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The voyage was "a small step for me but definitely a great leap for the Malaysian people," he told a news conference conducted from behind a glass screen to prevent pre-launch infection.

The man due to become the first Malaysian in space said he felt a sense of duty for the world's Muslims ahead of Wednesday's launch.

"Being a Muslim going to space is a big responsibility for me, not only before the Malaysian people but all Muslims all over the world," he said alongside Russian cosmonaut Yury Malenchenko and US astronaut Peggy Whitson, with whom he is to fly to the International Space Station (ISS).

"To be close to God's creation -- I will feel more spiritual and I do hope to come back and share all my feelings with other Muslims all over the world," he said.

Muszaphar, a 35-year-old doctor and part-time model, will be among just a few Muslims to have ventured to space.

He will arrive at the ISS in the closing hours of Ramadan, staying there for the Eid festival that follows, and is to conduct scientific experiments, including on cancer cells.

He is taking with him Malaysian food and special Eid biscuits for fellow crew members.

Malaysian religious authorities have prepared guidelines on how to adapt religious rules to life on the ISS, which circles the Earth 16 times per calendar day, meaning that without a special dispensation a Muslim would technically have to pray 80 times in 24 hours.

"I'm not sure how but I'm sure I'll find a way to pray and fast," said Muszaphar.

The visit has been arranged as part of a billion-dollar purchase by Malaysia of Russian fighter jets, Russia being the operator of the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Muszaphar said that for health reasons he would not hug his parents goodbye, but that he had their blessing.

"I do hope to at least see them through a screen. I was told I'm not allowed to hug them.

"My mum has always been worried about me. Any mother would be worried about her son but I got her blessings.... My dad has been very positive and said 'Don't come back until you've been to space'," said Muszaphar.

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