Kejayaan misi angkasa lepas bukti kehebatan Dr Mazlan

Nama lelaki pada nama bekas Ketua Pengarah Agensi Angkasa Negara, Prof Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman sebenarnya membawa makna besar.

Mazlan adalah cantuman nama dua negara iaitu Malaysia dan New Zealand. Malaysia dipilih kerana bapa dan ibunya rakyat negara bertuah ini, manakala New Zealand adalah tempat Mazlan dilahirkan ketika bapanya yang bertugas dengan Kementerian Pertanian ketika itu berkursus di negara Kiwi itu.

Nama bertuah ini nyata menyimpan seribu makna dan mendukung tuah kerana nama itulah yang membawa beliau kepada kedudukan dan kejayaan yang dikecapinya kini.

Prof Dr Mazlan, 56, mengakui ketika zaman kecilnya beliau juga pelik kerana namanya agak berbeza dengan rakan perempuan lain di sekolah. Beliau sendiri tertanya-tanya kenapa nama itu yang dipilih Allahyarham bapanya, Othman Mohd Lela dan Allahyarham ibunya, Ramlah Mat.

Program itu dianjurkan sebagai pelengkap kepada Karnival Islam Hadhari Parlimen Kota Tinggi yang diadakan di Dewan Raya Felda tersebut.

Turut hadir pada karnival itu ialah Menteri Luar yang juga Ahli Parlimen Kota Tinggi, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

Bercakap kepada pemberita kemudian, Syed Hamid berkata, menerusi program itu banyak manfaat diperoleh oleh penduduk setempat khususnya peneroka Felda.

"Pada keseluruhannya saya berpuas hati dengan sambutan yang ditunjukkan oleh masyarakat setempat di mana mereka tidak mengemukakan soalan yang remeh-temeh."

"Sebaliknya mereka menunjukkan keberanian dengan mengemukakan soalan-soalan yang menunjukkan mereka bijak dan memahami apa itu Stesen Angkasa Antarabangsa (ISS)," katanya.

Sementara itu, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor ketika ditanya perancangannya tahun depan berkata, beliau akan menjelajah serta berkongsi ilmu angkasa lepas bersama-sama pelajar sekolah menengah sama ada di bandar atau di luar bandar.

Katanya, langkah itu dilakukan bagi membolehkan generasi muda di negara ini mengetahui dengan lebih mendalam pengalaman dan penyelidikan yang telah dijalankannya.

Beliau kini menyusun jadual penjelajahan bagi memastikan apa yang dirancang berjalan lancar.

Menurut Sheikh Muszaphar, beliau kini dalam proses menyiapkan buku berhubung pengalamannya ke ISS untuk dikongsi dengan rakyat negara ini.

"Buku itu dalam proses suntingan dan dijangka siap sepenuhnya pada Julai tahun depan dan saya berjanji akan memberikan yang terbaik untuk para pembaca," katanya.

TIDAK perlu diperkenalkan lagi, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, 35, kini cukup dikenali di negara ini. Setiap peringkat rakyat melihat angkasawan pertama Malaysia sebagai kebanggaan negara. Pemergiannya ke Stesen Angkasa Lepas Antarabangsa (ISS) menaiki Soyuz TMA-II pada 10 Oktober lalu juga mendapat perhatian antarabangsa. Media Barat turut melaporkan mengenai isu cara angkasawan Islam beribadat di angkasa lepas. Bergelar angkasawan, beliau kini giat mempromosi di kalangan pelajar supaya meminati bidang sains dan teknologi. Ikuti pandangan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar mengenai pelbagai perkara, pengalamannya di ISS hingga cita-cita barunya menjadi juruterbang.

ZS: Bolehkah program angkasa lepas negara dan anda sendiri sebagai angkasawan menarik minat generasi muda, terutama pelajar untuk meminati sains dan teknologi?

DSMS: Saya berpendapat program angkasa lepas negara memberi kesan yang besar kepada rakyat Malaysia, terutama pelajar dan kanak-kanak.

Ramai kanak-kanak memberitahu saya bahawa mereka kini meminati bidang sains dan teknologi. Malah kanak-kanak berumur lima tahun melahirkan minat mereka untuk menjadi seorang angkasawan.

Ini suatu kesan yang besar dan memudahkan Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi (Mosti) dan negara menggalakkan lebih ramai generasi muda untuk mendalami bidang sains dan teknologi, sekali gus dapat melahirkan lebih ramai ahli sains dalam pelbagai bidang untuk memajukan industri angkasa lepas.

Saya kini bertugas untuk Mosti dan kami membuat banyak program di sekolah dan universiti yang membolehkan saya berkongsi pengalaman ketika di angkasa lepas. Saya rasa ini cara yang baik untuk menyuntik semangat kepada mereka supaya belajar bersungguh-sungguh dan lebih mendalami bidang sains.

Itu tanggungjawab saya sebagai seorang angkasawan, tetapi saya rasa lebih banyak boleh dilakukan untuk menarik minat pelajar terhadap bidang sains, terutama melalui usaha Kementerian Pelajaran.

DSMS: Memang hebat dan menggalakkan. Ramai yang datang menemui saya untuk mengetahui pengalaman saya dengan lebih mendalam. Di Pameran Maritim dan Aeroangkasa Antarabangsa Langkawi 2007 (Lima 2007) baru-baru ini, beratus-ratus kanak-kanak berjumpa saya untuk mengetahui program angkasa lepas.

ZS: Masih ramai yang tidak jemu mendengar pengalaman di angkasa lepas. Penilaian anda sepanjang di sana?

DSMS: Pengalaman di angkasa lepas walaupun hanya 12 hari sesuatu yang ajaib dan menyeronokkan. Saya takjub melihat kebesaran Allah dan sepanjang masa mengendalikan eksperimen untuk universiti tempatan.

Pengalaman itu sesuatu yang hebat dan saya berjanji kepada rakyat Malaysia bahawa saya akan berkongsi pengalaman itu. Setiap hari ketika berada di angkasa lepas, walaupun sibuk, saya memastikan menulis setiap detik pengalaman di ISS. Saya berharap dapat menulis buku untuk berkongsi pengalaman itu.

ZS: Sekarang masih dalam proses penulisan?

DSMS: Ya! Kemungkinan pertengahan tahun depan buku itu akan diterbitkan. Sebenarnya saya sekarang sedang menerbitkan buku tulisan adik saya, Ajil (Allahyarham Sheikh Mustaffa Al Masrie). Apabila saya kembali, dia telah menulis sebuah buku mengenai diri saya, My Journey to Space, adalah suatu penghormatan kepada adik saya. Saya ingin menubuhkan tabung untuk anaknya.

Oleh itu pada Februari depan, saya akan menerbitkan buku Ajil terlebih dulu mengenai perspektifnya terhadap saya sejak kecil hingga dewasa. Memang dia sudah menulis. Semuanya sudah siap dan hanya menunggu untuk diterbitkan.

ZS: Pengalaman paling hebat ketika berada di angkasa lepas?

DSMS: Sudah pasti melihat bumi. Apabila melihat bumi dari angkasa lepas buat kali pertama, saya berasa sungguh takjub terhadap kebesaran Allah. Itu adalah saat paling manis bagi saya. Kehidupan di ISS juga sangat baik dan begitu juga kerjasama krew ISS dari Amerika Syarikat dan Russia. Kehidupan dalam ISS adalah suatu tempat tanpa mengenal negara.

Kami bekerjasama demi kebaikan manusia serta mendapatkan hasil eksperimen yang mendalam untuk kebaikan sains dan teknologi.

ZS: Tidak menghadapi sebarang masalah?

DSMS: Saya seronok di angkasa lepas dan tidak menghadapi masalah langsung. Tiada kesan sampingan, rasa pening atau masalah lain. Saya bersyukur dan berasa ini hasil pertolongan rakyat Malaysia yang sentiasa berdoa untuk kejayaan angkasawan negara. Saya berasa seolah-olah saya dilahirkan di angkasa lepas. Saya sangat sesuai di angkasa lepas. Saya berharap dapat tinggal lebih lama... kalau boleh hingga enam bulan.

ZS: Dilaporkan pengalaman mendarat di bumi lebih mendebarkan, berbanding ketika berada di angkasa lepas?

DSMS: Saya menghadapi penurunan balistik yang jarang berlaku. Cuma dua kali terjadi membabitkan program angkasa lepas Russia sejak 1961. Kami terbabas sejauh 600 kilometer dari tempat asal.

Bagaimanapun, ini suatu pengalaman yang menarik kepada saya kerana kami berpusing-pusing dan terhumban dalam kapsul apabila memasuki atmosfera. Kami juga menanggung tekanan graviti atau tekanan terhadap dada hingga 9G. Saya tidak dapat bernafas, tetapi berjaya diatasi kerana dilatih bernafas menggunakan abdomen.

Segala-galanya berlaku dengan pantas. Ketika itu, saya lebih mementingkan bahan eksperimen yang berada dalam kapsul Soyuz. Ya Allah! Saya sudah menghabiskan banyak masa untuk penyelidikan dan kerajaan juga sudah banyak berbelanja untuk eksperimen. Itu saja dalam pemikiran saya. Alhamdulillah, saya diberitahu bahawa semuanya selamat dan berjaya.

ZS: Walaupun bukan angkasawan Islam pertama ke angkasa lepas, pemergian angkasawan negara lebih banyak diperkatakan, terutama yang membabitkan aspek keislaman seperti cara beribadat. Bagaimana anda melihat perspektif ini sebagai angkasawan Islam?

DSMS: Memang saya bukan angkasawan Islam pertama, tetapi adalah orang pertama pergi ketika Ramadan. Saya sempat berpuasa dan menunaikan solat di angkasa lepas. Jakim (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia) juga buat kali pertama menerbitkan sebuah buku panduan mengenai cara beribadat di angkasa lepas.

Tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa perkara ini menarik perhatian negara Islam seluruh dunia. Saya juga merekodkan video dan gambar mengenai cara melakukan solat dan berpuasa di angkasa lepas untuk dijadikan teladan dan contoh kepada angkasawan Islam lain yang hendak ke angkasa lepas.

Ini perkara yang baik kerana secara peribadi, Islam adalah suatu yang mudah. Walaupun kita berada di dunia atau di mana-mana saja, termasuk angkasa lepas, kita tidak harus melupakan tanggungjawab sebagai orang Islam. Amat penting bagi saya menunaikan tanggungjawab ini dan menunjukkan kepada umat Islam bahawa Islam suatu cara hidup.

Saya berharap berkongsi dengan umat Islam seluruh dunia. Berikutan itu, saya dijemput memberikan ceramah untuk berkongsi pengalaman dengan rakyat di negara Asia Barat melalui program anjuran pelbagai pertubuhan Islam. Saya berharap menjalankan tanggungjawab saya sebagai orang Islam dan mewakili Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara Islam.

ZS: Jika berpuasa di bumi mudah berasa lapar, adakah keadaan yang sama dialami ketika di angkasa lepas?

DSMS: Seolah-olah tidak terasa seperti berpuasa langsung. Walaupun tempoh masa berpuasa lebih kurang sama, iaitu antara jam 5 pagi hingga 7 malam dengan mengikut waktu Kazakhstan, saya berasa begitu berbeza apabila berpuasa di angkasa lepas. Saya rasa begitu tenang dan secara kerohanian begitu rapat dengan Allah.

Walaupun saya hanya berpuasa dua hari, saya tidak berasa lapar. Kalau di bumi, kadang-kadang kita berasa hendak makan dan minum, tetapi ini tidak berlaku di sana.

ZS: Bagaimana pula beribadat di angkasa lepas?

DSMS: Cara beribadat boleh dikatakan mudah kerana panduan ditetapkan. Saya melakukan solat mengikut waktu Kazakhstan. Walaupun setiap 45 minit matahari naik dan turun serta jika mengikut matahari terbit, saya perlu melakukan solat 80 kali, tetapi mengikut Jakim, solat adalah lima kali sehari mengikut waktu Kazakhstan.

Melakukan tayammum dan solat juga mudah. Cuma kaki perlu diikat supaya tubuh tidak terapung-apung. Saya bersolat dalam keadaan berdiri dan kadang-kadang duduk apabila keadaan terdesak. Kadang-kadang terpaksa bersolat dalam keadaan yang sempit. Bagaimanapun bagi saya, ini tidak menjadi masalah kerana agak mudah sama seperti di bumi.

ZS: Apa pula reaksi anggota lain dalam ISS. Adakah timbul perasaan ingin tahu apabila melihat anda bersolat?

DSMS: Mereka menghormati Islam. Di ISS, tidak kira sama ada Kristian atau Islam, kita mempunyai tanggungjawab masing-masing untuk menjalankan ibadat. Mereka menghormati waktu saya melakukan solat. Sudah tentu mereka bertanya mengenai Islam dan saya banyak berkongsi mengenai Islam.

ZS: Anda kini dikenali oleh setiap rakyat Malaysia. Dijemput ke seluruh negara, memberikan ceramah dan menghadiri pelbagai majlis. Bagaimana menyesuaikan diri dengan perubahan yang berlaku?

DSMS: Sebenarnya apabila dipilih sebagai angkasawan pertama negara, saya tahu ini akan berlaku. Segala perkara mengenai kehidupan saya ingin diketahui umum. Saya menerima tanggungjawab ini dengan baik dan bersyukur kerana diberi mandat berkongsi dengan rakyat Malaysia.

Walaupun kadang-kadang media massa ingin mengetahui kehidupan peribadi, saya berharap mereka akan lebih memfokuskan terhadap eksperimen dan pengalaman di angkasa lepas. Walaupun kadang-kadang tidak dapat dielakkan keseluruhan, bagi diri saya, jika dapat memberikan kegembiraan walaupun kepada seorang rakyat Malaysia, saya akan gembira.

Saya gembira dengan apa dilakukan dan akan terus menerus berkongsi pengalaman kepada setiap insan di negara ini, tanpa mengira kaum dan agama. Saya akan meneruskan tanggungjawab sepanjang hayat.

ZS: Ada terasa seperti menjadi seorang selebriti apabila mendapat tumpuan ramai?

DSMS: Bagi diri saya, ini bukan mengenai kemasyhuran dan pujian. Saya tidak kisah semua itu. Saya mahu menjalankan tugas sebagai angkasawan untuk menukar minda rakyat Malaysia. Itu adalah matlamat saya. Saya benar-benar mahu berjumpa pelajar dan memberitahu mereka supaya yakin kepada diri sendiri.

Jika saya boleh melakukannya, mereka juga boleh kerana saya bukan seorang yang istimewa. Saya sama seperti mereka. Saya cuma seorang doktor di HUKM (Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) dan yang penting ialah kekuatan mental. Kita perlu yakin terhadap kekuatan minda. Saya hendak menanamkan semangat di kalangan pelajar bahawa apabila mereka ingin melakukan sesuatu, mereka mampu melakukannya.

Impian saya menjadi kenyataan selepas 25 tahun. Saya ingin sampaikan kepada mereka supaya simpan impian itu dan insya-Allah, pada bila-bila masa ia akan menjadi kenyataan.

ZS: Apabila berada di tempat awam seperti berjalan-jalan, adakah masa untuk bersendirian (privacy) hilang?

DSMS: Memang sudah tiada lagi. Di mana-mana saya pergi, memang ramai akan berjumpa, bersalam dan mengambil gambar. Saya tahu itu tanggungjawab saya kepada masyarakat dan saya tidak ada masalah. Saya akan menjalankan tugas walaupun di mana saya berada. Walaupun privacy sudah tiada, saya rasa perkara itu harus diterima.

ZS: Sedikit pun tidak berasa terganggu?

DSMS: Tidak... tidak. Saya tidak melihat ini sebagai masalah berjumpa rakyat Malaysia kerana ini yang saya mahu. Saya mahu melakukan perubahan bukan saja di Malaysia, tetapi dunia. Saya mahu suara saya didengar untuk menukar minda rakyat. Antara caranya ialah berjumpa mereka.

ZS: Bila sebenarnya bermula impian menjadi angkasawan?

DSMS: Saya berminat sejak berusia 10 tahun. Saya ingat lagi, saya suka melihat langit dan mengetahui mengenai angkasa lepas. Saya tahu bahawa ketika itu, Malaysia memang baru dalam program angkasa lepas. Bagaimanapun, saya pendam dalam diri dan saya mengambil bidang kedoktoran kerana ia lebih rapat dalam bidang sains.

Bagaimanapun apabila ditawarkan pada 2003, dalam hati saya tahu ini adalah takdir saya dan terus memohon dan Alhamdulillah hingga mencapai tahap menjadi angkasawan Malaysia.

ZS: Ketika mula menghantar borang menjadi angkasawan, adakah pernah terfikir akan pergi sejauh ini?

DSMS: Ketika saya mengisi borang pada 2003, saya tahu bahawa saya akan pergi jauh. Saya tahu bahawa saya akan pergi hingga tahap 10 calon terakhir. Tiga adik-beradik saya juga memasuki program ini dan mereka berjaya ke tahap 59 orang terakhir.

Bagaimanapun, saya tidak sangka akan dipilih sebagai angkasawan pertama negara. Jika hendak menyatakan pergi jauh, saya yakin kepada diri saya dan tahu saya mempunyai mental yang kuat. Apabila terpilih, itu adalah rezeki dan ketetapan Allah.

ZS: Seorang doktor perubatan, model sambilan, ahli perniagaan (mengusahakan Restoran Rebung di Bangsar) dan kini seorang angkasawan. Semua bidang ini amat kontras atau tidak mempunyai kaitan langsung. Mengapa?

DSMS: Pertama, saya suka mempelbagaikan. Saya tidak suka membabitkan diri dalam satu bidang. Saya rasa dengan cara itu, saya dapat melihat betapa jauh saya boleh pergi. Saya tidak suka duduk dalam zon selesa. Saya suka mengambil risiko dan mencuba apa juga bidang yang berbeza.

Ini menyebabkan saya menggalakkan semua rakyat di luar menceburi apa juga bidang yang mereka minati. Saya selalunya selepas berjaya dalam satu bidang akan bertukar ke bidang lain dan mencuba bidang itu. Kalau saya berjaya, Alhamdulillah, saya akan mencuba bidang lain, saya akan tengok berapa jauh saya boleh pergi.

Saya ingin menjadi seorang juruterbang dalam tempoh lima tahun dari sekarang. Itu antara sasaran saya. Memang benar, ia jauh berbeza. Saya rasa setiap peluang tidak harus dilepaskan. Saya akan cuba hingga berjaya dalam bidang itu.

Bidang model pun saya berminat kerana dapat berjumpa dengan orang yang berbeza. Maknanya bukan saja yang berfikiran kedoktoran atau sains. Di restoran, saya suka berjumpa dan melayan orang. Sudah tentu saya juga suka makan. Banyak perkara yang saya ingin lakukan.

ZS: Apakah perancangan selepas ini?

DSMS: Memang banyak. Pertama sekali, saya ingin memberi semangat kepada semua rakyat di seluruh Malaysia, terutama di kawasan pedalaman, Sabah dan Sarawak. Saya juga ingin memfokuskan kepada MRSM (Maktab Rendah Sains Mara) kerana saya bekas pelajar MRSM Muar.

Saya masih dalam bidang ortopedik dan seorang pensyarah UKM. Saya harap kembali ke UKM serta meneruskan tugas merawat, berjumpa pesakit di wad dan melakukan pembedahan. Itu memang minat saya.

Saya juga berharap bertugas dengan Angkasa (Agensi Angkasa Negara) dan MOSTI mempromosi program angkasa lepas. Saya berharap menggunakan pengalaman yang saya ada, teknologi yang saya pelajari di Russia untuk berkongsi pengalaman dan memajukan industri angkasa lepas supaya pada suatu hari, Malaysia dapat melancarkan kapal angkasa sendiri.

Saya juga berminat meneruskan latihan sebagai seorang angkasawan dan kembali ke ISS selama enam bulan atau pergi ke planet Marikh. Saya rasa ada perancangan untuk menghantar kami berdua (Mejar Dr Faiz Khaleed) untuk meneruskan latihan sebagai angkasawan aktif. Maknanya bukan setakat ini, saya sudah menjadi angkasawan dan berhenti setakat itu saja.

Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Datuk Seri Dr. Jamaludin Jarjis berkata, walaupun mempunyai jadual yang padat di Malaysia, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi telah mengizinkan angkasawan negara ke sini atas permintaan Indonesia.

Inilah undangan pertama dari luar negara yang diterima oleh Sheikh Muszaphar sejak pulang ke tanah air setelah berada sembilan hari di Stesen Angkasa Antarabangsa (ISS) dan menerima sijil angkasawan di Rusia.

"Sheikh Muszaphar adalah milik kita bersama dan beliau akan berkongsi pengalaman bagi membangkitkan semangat jutaan generasi muda rantau ini agar memiliki keazaman untuk berjaya dalam pendidikan, pekerjaan dan perniagaan berasaskan sains, teknologi dan inovasi," kata Jamaludin.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang media selepas majlis dialog bertemakan 'Transformasi Inovasi Ke Arah Peluang Perniagaan' di Pusat Penelitian Ilmu dan Teknologi (Puspiptek) di Serpong dekat sini.

Hadir sama Menteri Sains dan Teknologi Indonesia, Dr. Kusmayanto Kadiman, wakil-wakil korporat dan pakar-pakar sains.

Dr. Kusmayanto merupakan orang yang bertanggungjawab memujuk Perdana Menteri untuk membawa angkasawan pertama Malaysia itu ke Indonesia.

"Kalau 30 tahun lalu, Malaysia mendapatkan tenaga pengajar dan pensyarah dari Indonesia untuk mengajar rakyat Malaysia, kini kami ingin membalas budi baik itu dengan bekerjasama dalam bidang sains dan teknologi," katanya lagi.

Sementara itu, Sheikh Muszaphar memberitahu Utusan Malaysia, beliau bersedia untuk menjadi pencetus semangat anak bangsa di Indonesia supaya mereka juga memiliki impian besar untuk memajukan bangsa dan negara.

ONE of the country’s most talented, accomplished and visionary women talks about efforts to get people interested in space science, writes ARFAH ABDULLAH.

ANALYSE her DNA and you will surely find a potent mix of 16th century seafaring explorer cum kris-wielding warrior with a touch of palace maiden running through her veins.

She finds uncharted territory fascinating, be it unexplored caves or a non-existent space science industry, and she will belt it into submission to create her vision. The odds? Inconsequential. For hers is the blood of a true pioneer.

Once a path is beaten, she will softly beckon for us to follow. Once we are settled in our new environment, she will take a bow, and leave for the next adventure on the road of perpetual discovery.

Having clocked out for the last time and walked out of the doors of the National Space Agency (Angkasa), its director-general Prof Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman will not look back, let alone come back.

She has pointed Angkasa firmly in the direction to sustain an active space science industry. Her 15-year technology, infrastructure, human capital and governance road-maps have been put in place. She retires with head, heart, soul and integrity intact.

And she is incredibly keen on her re-appointment as Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (Unoosa) in Vienna, a post she had held previously from 1999 to 2002.

"It was an incredible relief," says Mazlan, laughing when reminded of the tears of mixed emotion she shed during the moments of Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha’s lift-off on Oct 10.

It gave her the closure she needed at the end of her own arduous journey that mobilised the angkasawan programme into action literally from thin air.

In building the Angkasa infrastructure, she has had so much pleasure working with the Economic Planning Unit, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Treasury and Wisma Putra, all of whom were professional and "understand the strategic goals of our space programmes".

"Anyone can go to space," she admits "but the angkasawan programme was about creating value through science, through technology development, and overall awareness for science and space science."

"It is not just finished with the return of one angkasawan. It's about carrying on with the space science."

"That's why I have set up relationships with the European Space Agency, the Japanese Space Agency and NASA, so we can have long-term plans with them."

It was Mazlan who carefully negotiated to and fro with Moscow to find the optimum- cost solution for the scientific experiments which Dr Sheikh Muszaphar conducted on the International Space Station nine weeks ago.

"We had to make sure that our scope was big enough, but not too big that the Russians would charge a phenomenal amount," says Mazlan, adding that each gramme of payload placed on the rockets has a large monetary value attached to it.

She says that while a maximum of RM15 million was spent on co-ordinating the science experiments, the actual training of the angkasawan was gratuitous as a result of the Ministry of Defence’s Sukhoi offset agreement.

Angkasa spent RM10 million, including expenditure for negotiation activities in Russia and contract to the Russian Space Agency for science support. The biotech division under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation gave RM4 million worth of research grants to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

"For the science, we were always very careful and cognisant of the fact that we were spending taxpayers' money. However, I cannot tell you how much it cost to hold the live telecast or organise the media and logistics, because I don't know."

She does know that the results of the three science experiments that were carried out in space by Dr Sheikh Muszaphar were worth the anticipation.

"We expect commercialisation from the science itself, like the protein crystals which are still being analysed."

"Alas, we are not able to commercialise any technology from the project. We did not build the rockets, we did not build the chair, we did not invent the space suit. There was no transfer of technology, although there are plans for it now."

Spacecraft technology is the most difficult to acquire because "it is the same technology used to launch warheads and ballistic missiles, so the restrictions against exporting such technology are great". The investment cost is expected to be equally as great.

So, is building our own rockets on the agenda or not?

"I think it is a male thing to want to build rockets," she laughs.

"It doesn't have to be top priority right now. But you can do it, with a detailed and sound strategic plan."

"You could leapfrog some of the technologies and buy some components. If it's okay not to have the entire engine designed by us, then yes. If our aim is to get a certain amount of technology transfer for fuel technology and engine technology, then yes."

"Technology transfer sounds good but it can only happen when the gap is narrowed. When the gap is too big, there is no transfer. It will be just like teaching a theory."

Now that Angkasa is five years old, Mazlan is confident she has sown the seeds for the next phase of its life.

"It is now a question of management."

To feel sad about her departure is not to understand the psyche that makes up Mazlan. Creating something out of nothing, and then moving on, has always been her approach to life, work or play.

First, her choice to do astrophysics was not a conventional one.

She started lecturing at UKM in 1975, gained her PhD in 1981, but still had to carve a place for courses and laboratories in the field. She managed to insert elements of space science into the school curriculum in 1990. Then she took a bow.

At the end of that year, she project-managed the National Planetarium which was opened in 1993 and embarked on public and school programmes. Here, she took another bow.

By 1994, she founded the Space Science Division (Baksa) and initiated the National Microsatellite programme. TiungSAT was completed in 1997, launched in 2000 and provided us with our own images of Earth and space. That’s her third bow.

With her leadership, government-owned Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd was formed in 1997 and the company spearheads space technology development through RazakSat — the latest and most advanced satellite. Did she bow? Of course.

By now, she was wooed by the United Nations, so she left the country to serve as director of Unoosa in 1999. Before she could even take a bow, then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad requested for her return to set up and lead Angkasa in July 2002.

After she takes what she believes to be her final bow, but which many are sceptical, she will return to the UN and handle unfinished business.

Particularly, she will take up the issue of countries which prefer to build their own remote-sensing satellites, with their own protocol and specifications and not allowing for a seamless system where everyone can obtain photographs or data from one source.

"If I use the French satellite, I have to use the French system. If I use another country's, it's another system. No one is co-ordinating all this," says Mazlan.

"I could just buy one system to access all satellites, but now I have to buy at least five systems. It’s expensive."

Her spendthrift ways have had an impact. Much of what Angkasa is today was also a result of her resourceful ways of cutting cost.

She attributes the pioneer in her to an intrinsic drive that has always wanted to be different, and by definition more exciting. Even in school, she remembers always making it a point to be interested in all things other than what her peers enjoyed.

Don't let her get started on her actual physical pursuits. She prefers climbing Gunung Tahan to Mount Kinabalu as it is more treacherous. She prefers being airlifted by helicopter to the most remote part of the jungle because it is untouched.

This spirit of adventure is shared with her husband (Prof Ibrahim Komo, deputy vice-chancellor of UKM) and they often go on expeditions together to look first-hand at the latest geological discoveries like dinosaur eggs for instance. Some are housed in glass cabinets in her home.

"Before the angkasawan programme, I could talk about satellites and rockets but the public did not feel a connection."

"This project is able to connect people with what is happening in space."

"People who would not normally talk about space have started asking questions. And whether what we are doing is good or not. It’s a healthy debate!" she says, adding that any kind of criticism is good as a guide to continuous improvement.

She admits that if she were to put her mind and channel her efforts towards something post-Angkasa in the country, it would be on how to produce Malaysia’s very first Olympic gold medallist.

"When we went into the angkasawan programme, I clearly thought of the type of person you need to have — someone with the mental tenacity, physical fitness, medical suitability and most importantly the psychological mindframe."

"It’s exactly the same if you wanted to train a group of people for an Olympic gold medal."

In the United States, third grade schoolers have a lesson called "Inventors and Trailblazers", where the innovations and efforts of legendary individuals are studied with particular attention being paid to how they overcame barriers.

A very likely candidate, if such a lesson was introduced in Malaysia, should be none other than Mazlan.

RUSSIA will sell the Soyuz-TMA 11 capsule to Malaysia for the "right price".

Its ambassador to Malaysia, Alexander Karchava, said yesterday that the Russian government was still in the process of fixing the price of the capsule which brought Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor to the International Space Station.

"It is a long process. We can only sell the capsule when both sides have come to an agreement as to the price and when that long process has run its course," he said at a press conference by Rosoboronexport, the Russian agency which overseas sales of the country's military products overseas.

Karchava said Russian Property Abroad, a government body which decides on such issues, had not given its input.

Karchava said Russia would enter the race to replace the Royal Malaysian Air Force's Nuri helicopters.

On the contrary, he said, he would carry out his duties simultaneously — as a space speaker and researcher, and orthopaedic surgeon and lecturer.

"I will not give up my job as an orthopaedic surgeon although I have a duty as an astronaut," he told Bernama here yesterday.

Dr Muszaphar, 35, is manning the Astronaut Gallery at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) booth at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2007 exhibition which began here yesterday.

He created history when he blasted off to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan in Russia's Soyuz TMA-11 on Nov 10 and came back to earth 11 days later.

Dr Muszaphar said he was now under a one-year contract with MOSTI until the end of 2008, after which he would return to his job at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) as an orthopaedic surgeon and lecturer.

He, however, also hoped to lead a space research team.

"I want to conduct an international-level study for the benefit of mankind when I go back to UKM and to forge cooperation with space researchers from throughout the world."

"Right now I'm eager to start my duty as MOSTI speaker in January next year to share my space experience with university and school students. I wish it will begin sooner," he said.

He revealed that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who visited the Astronaut Gallery for 15 minutes, had also asked him about his plan.

"Dr Mahathir and his wife (Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali) hoped that I would help Malaysians through the talks organised by MOSTI," he said, adding that the former prime minister asked him to be diligent in his work, look after himself and safeguard the name of the country.

"Dr Mahathir said he was proud of me and hoped I would be able to change the people’s mindset now that the country has its own astronauts," he said.

Dr Muszaphar said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah also visited the Astronaut Gallery.

"The King asked me to safeguard the good name of the country, and to continue to contribute to the religion, people and country. He was also proud of my achievement as an astronaut," said Dr Muszaphar who urged the people to visit LIMA 2007 to know about developments in the country's space programme.

GRACE and power.

These words come to mind when the Royal Malaysian Air Force's latest asset, the Sukhoi Su-30MKM, Flanker, takes to the air.

Yesterday, the aircraft flew vertically upwards before coming to what seemed like a complete stop in mid-air.

The aircraft seemed to hover in space before slowly dropping down in one controlled, yet fluid movement.

It then flew through the sky, manoeuvring and tumbling as effortlessly like a bird.

The spectacular showcase had spectators, who attended the opening show of the aerospace segment of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (Lima '07), marvelling at the Sukhoi's graceful power. It was undoubtedly the star of the show.

The show began at 10am sharp, with the arrival of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who watched most of it with his predecessor, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

First on the programme was a CN235 transport aircraft which dropped nine air force commandos, whose role was to act as pathfinders for aircraft which were to take part in an "air assault" on the airport.

Four of the RMAF's Hawk aircraft and two of the army's air wing A109M light observation helicopters then proceeded to "bomb" the airport.

The explosions these "bombs" set off startled those gathered for the show but this soon turned to gasps of delight.

Four C-130 Hercules aircraft then entered the air space above the Langkawi International Airport.

One dropped two crates of ammunition and other supplies for the commandos while the rest showed the crowd that the large aircraft were capable of making short landings, dropping off cargo, speeding down the runway again and taking off.

Two Nuri helicopters then flew in and dropped ropes for the commandos to hold onto, before whisking them away.

The final part of the air assault simulation was one which not many can claim to have ever seen.

Flying at low altitude, a KC-130 tanker refuelled two F/A-18D Hornet aircraft while two others flew guard on the tanker aircraft's flanks.

With the air assault simulation over, it was time for the air show to begin.

First to take the stage were three MiG-29N Fulcrum aircraft, call sign Taufan Ganas, which thrilled the crowd with some death-defying manoeuvres.

The pilots of the aircraft showed that they too were as skilled as any aerobatics team in the world.

Though the Fulcrums have been a regular feature at Lima, they never fail to impress, and they certainly impressed this time as well.

Immediately following Taufan Ganas were another crowd favourite, the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows.

The internationally renowned aerobatics team showed amazing discipline, skill and precision as they pulled off many manoeuvres.

Among these was a palm tree-like formation dedicated to Malaysia and her people.

At one point, the Arrows wowed the audience with a heart shape in the sky, complete with an arrow through the middle.

The heart was created by two Arrows using smoke, while the arrow was done by another aircraft.

Other parts of the show had the audience on tenterhooks as two planes flew from opposite ends of the airfield and passed within what seemed like centimetres of each other.

When the Arrows were done, it was the Flankers' turn. Its pilots performed several seemingly impossible movements.

A short ceremony was later held to mark the handing over of the aircraft.

Abdullah, his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak and their wives, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, later met the Flanker pilots and viewed their aircraft.

HE has conquered space. Now he dreams of conquering the skies.

Malaysia's first astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor wants to be a pilot next after an "amazing" ride on a Red Arrows aircraft.

He was invited to be a part of the world-renowned aerobatic team's aerial display during the opening show of the aerospace segment of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2007 exhibition yesterday.

"I was in the air for 35 minutes and the pilot even allowed me to take the controls for about five minutes.

"We were going at such high speeds. It was an amazing experience," he said.

Muszaphar is planning to take his pilot's licence in five years' time.

The affable 35-year-old said he had the greatest respect for pilots as flying was "not an easy task".

Muszaphar's other dream is to treat sick children in Africa. He has always wanted to do as many things as possible in life.

"Once you try something, you realise that you want to do more of it. That is why I encourage all Malaysians to diversify, move out of your comfort zones and explore new things in life. Always push yourself to the limit."

Muszaphar will be at the National Space Programme booth in Lima until Saturday for meet-the-fans and autograph-signing sessions.

This will be possible in the future as the National Space Agency is intensifying efforts to develop its capacity in satellite technology and teaching the skills to youths.

"It can happen if people at that time reach a certain level of technical expertise as well as have a desire to do something different," said its director-general Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman in a public lecture at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia yesterday.

The way to achieve that level, she said, was to expose schoolchildren and university students to satellite and rocket-building.

"Hopefully, in the next 15 to 20 years, the idea will not be so alien to them, as they would have touched or even built a satellite while studying," she said.

The National Space Agency has started going to schools and universities to raise awareness and to help develop certain skills among the children and undergraduates.

Mazlan added that it was not difficult to build satellites. "Only the sophisticated satellite needs to be built in a sophisticated place."

She said the agency planned to develop a centre to build satellites locally.

"We must provide jobs for the best brains in Malaysia to stay in the country so as to create a 'brain retention' of these space experts," she said.

Also present at the public lecture, which was entitled "Space: Its Value Proposition for Malaysian Security, Enterprise and Science", were Malaysia's first astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha and Academy of Sciences of Malaysia honorary treasurer Datuk Ahmad Zaidee Laidin.

The aerospace segment now has new organisers - World Aerospace Sdn Bhd - and Malaysia's achievement in sending a man into space will be one of the highlights of the exhibition next week. The two Malaysian Angkasawan will be making an appearance at the exhibition.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and Maj Dr Faiz Khaleed will be on site for the five-day exhibition, giving talks on their experiences and on the space programme.

And no one is more excited about this than World Aerospace chief executive officer Nonee Ashirin Mohd Radzi.

As the organiser for the aerospace segment of Lima '07, World Aerospace is out to make the exhibition a catalyst for the space sector, said Nonee.

"We expect the presence of our two cosmonauts to be a crowd-puller," she told the New Straits Times.

Nonee said the biennial exhibition that started off in 1991 must be kept relevant, and as the aerospace industry continues to grow so the exhibition will showcase the latest technologies.

On the defence side, she said home-grown unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) would make their debut at Lima '07.

And on the civil aviation side, Nonee said Lima would see the gathering of low-cost carriers, which was timely as the government was positioning Malaysia as a regional low-cost carrier hub.

This year's highlights include the aerial shows by the Royal Malaysian Air Force's newly-acquired Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets and the Royal Australian Air Force's F-111 Aardvark bombers.

And even though Lima is an aerospace and maritime exhibition the army will also have a spot - its new PT-91M main battle tanks will be on display.

Members of the public can visit the exhibition on Dec 7 and 8 and can see aerial displays by the famous Red Arrows from the United Kingdom, the Indian Air Force's Surya Kiran aerobatics team, the Sukhois, the F/A-18D Hornets and the MiG-29N Fulcrums.

Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Datuk Seri Dr. Jamaludin Jarjis berkata, mesyuarat pertama NIC yang diadakan pada 4 Disember tahun lepas, telah memutuskan supaya pameran inovasi yang diadakan sempena mesyuarat tersebut dijadikan acara tahunan.

Mesyuarat tersebut, katanya, melibatkan 38 ahli terdiri daripada pakar tempatan dan antarabangsa serta firma perundingan yang dilantik bagi memberi input kepada kerajaan untuk menggubal model inovasi.

"Pada tahun ini, NICE 2007 yang diadakan di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) mempunyai signifikan, selaras dengan usaha untuk mewujudkan kesedaran mengenai kepentingan inovasi serta merangsang serta menggalakkan budaya inovasi di setiap peringkat masyarakat, khususnya generasi muda," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar mengumumkan penganjuran NICE 2007 di sini, baru-baru ini.

Katanya, NICE 2007 yang berakhir pada 30 Disember dan bertemakan Inovasi Untuk Menjana Kekayaan dan Kesejahteraan Sosial turut diisi dengan pelbagai program dan aktiviti melibatkan persidangan, pameran, bengkel dan sesi plenari.

Kata beliau, sempena penganjuran NICE 2007 juga, satu pameran diadakan yang menampilkan bahan-bahan inovasi sains dan teknologi semasa dengan tumpuan kepada produk, perkhidmatan, inovasi sekolah dan inovasi akar umbi.

Pameran tersebut terdiri daripada 30 pameran akan umbi, kategori produk (20), perkhidmatan (14) dan sekolah (10).

Menurut Jamaludin lagi, pameran tersebut turut disertai oleh agensi penyelidikan yang menerima geran penyelidikan daripada kementeriannya, manakala acara yang dijangka paling menarik perhatian ialah Pameran Angkasawan.

"Pameran angkasawan memberi peluang kepada pengunjung untuk bertemu angkasawan negara, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha," ujarnya.

Turut diadakan serentak sempena NICE 2007 ialah empat acara terbesar iaitu Persidangan BioMalaysia 2007, Waste 2 Wealth atau W2W (daripada bahan sisa kepada bahan berguna), RoboFest dan Nanotech Malaysia 2007.

Persidangan BioMalaysia merupakan acara perdana tahunan yang menemukan profesional, eksekutif, usahawan, pelabur dan penggubal dasar dari seluruh dunia menubuhkan jaringan dan berkongsi pendapat.

RoboFest pula merupakan satu pertandingan robot yang melibatkan beberapa peringkat iaitu institusi pengajian tinggi, sekolah menengah dan rendah bertujuan merangsang minat peserta pertandingan dan pelawat dalam bidang inovasi.

Dalam pada itu, Nanotech Malaysia 2007 pula merangkumi simposium dan forum bertujuan meningkatkan pengetahuan dan pendedahan mengenai pembangunan penyelidikan nanoteknologi semasa.

Pada masa yang sama, penganjuran W2W pula bertujuan supaya rakyat menyedari kepentingan teknologi sedia ada untuk menjana kekayaan daripada hasil buangan.

"Sempena persidangan kali ini juga, satu majlis penyampaian Anugerah Inovasi Negara 2007 akan diadakan pada Jumaat dan pemberian Anugerah Frost & Sullivan kepada Mimos Berhad serta beberapa dokumen antara agensi kerajaan serta syarikat swasta," ujarnya.