DR Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor has received the thumbs up from his fellow crew members, who are impressed with his handling of the experiments assigned to him.

Head of the Malaysian scientific delegation Prof Dr A. Rahman A. Jamal said the Russians at Mission Control Centre were impressed with the competence of Malaysia's first man in space.

"Since the International Space Station is a research facility, those on board view the experiments seriously.

"From the feedback I received, they were impressed with Dr Muszaphar's understanding and execution of the experiments."

Rahman said scientific experiments were harder to conduct in space.

"On Earth, the same experiments can be concluded within 20 minutes. Due to the effects of microgravity, the procedures may take up to four times longer."

He said credit should go to both Dr Muszaphar and the scientists in charge of each experiment.

"This shows that Malaysian scientists have trained him well and that he fully comprehends the procedures."

"Each stage of the experiments has to follow a specific timetable and that is another aspect that Dr Muszaphar has performed satisfactorily."

Of the three main experiments - Microbes in Space, Cells in Space and Protein Crystallisation in Space - one has been concluded.

The studies on cells in space and protein crystallisation are continuing.

On Monday, Dr Muszaphar successfully completed his task of repairing the space station's eye tracking device with cosmonaut Yuri Malechenko.

"It is a major component of the International Space Station and he did a good job," said Rahman.

Dr Muszaphar also marked several symbolic items, such as a scroll with the Rukun Negara, two Malaysian flags and Angkasawan programme patches, with the stamp of the space station.

These items will be be put on display at the National Planetarium upon his return.

A beaming Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor told Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that he hoped that Malaysia would have the capability to one day build its own rocket.

"This is a new era for Malaysians. I also hope my experience will encourage more Malaysian students to take up space technology."

Dr Muszaphar was speaking with Abdullah via videoconferencing at Astro last night.

"I want to wish you Selamat Hari Raya and also on behalf of my wife and the people of Malaysia as I couldn't do it the other day due to transmission problems," said Abdullah.

The 15-minute videoconferencing saw Abdullah posing a number of questions to Dr Muszaphar with regard to his health, conditions on space and his experiments.

"Now that you are in the space station, do you feel that the training received in Russia was adequate or would you have wished for additional training?" asked Abdullah.

Dr Muszaphar said it was his seventh day in space and that the training in Russia was a big help in making his mission a success.

Abdullah wanted to know the progress of his experiments and Dr Muszaphar said the experiments he was conducting at the International Space Station were on schedule, and that scientists in Moscow would also be helping him.

Among the experiments is to grow liver cancer and leukaemia cells in microgravity. He will also perform two experiments on microbes and protein crystallisation in space, from which the results could be used to develop industrial applications.

To Abdullah's question on his working relationship with the other astronauts, Dr Muszaphar said that the Russian and American crew members were helpful.

"They believe Malaysians can become professional angkasawan," he said during the the 15-minute chat with Abdullah.

Dr Muszaphar also thanked Malaysians and read the Rukun Negara.

He also spun a Merdeka anniversary trinket bearing the Malaysian flag in mid air, much to Abdullah's amusement.

"Thank you-lah for bringing those things with you to remind you of being a Malaysian," Abdullah said, laughing.

Abdullah's wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, was also present, and asked after the spaceman's diet and he said he was eating well and was healthy.

The event which was telecast live by Astro and local television stations showed Dr Sheikh Muszaphar clearly in high spirits and looking cheerful while answering questions posed Dr Jamaludin, who is the Science, Technology and Innovations Minister.

"I'm enjoying and cherishing every moment of my stay at the ISS and wish I could stay here longer," said Dr Sheikh Muszaphar when asked how he was adjusting to the new environment.

The video conferencing that lasted about 10 minutes also gave Malaysians an opportunity to see Dr Sheikh Muszaphar's mobility inside the ISS in microgravity and also hear Russian astronaut Yuri Malenchenko greet Malaysians.

Flight Engineer Malenchenko and Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States were the other crew members of the Soyuz TMA-11 that brought Dr Sheikh Muszaphar to the ISS. It blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Oct. 10.

The Soyuz successfully docked with the ISS at 10.52pm Malaysian time on Oct. 12 and the crew joined Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov and Clay Anderson, three crew of the previous mission to the ISS, Expedition 15, at about 12.33pm Malaysian time.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said his experiment on proteins for a potential HIV vaccine was completed and he would be involved in a second experiment tomorrow.

During the expedition, he will carry out four experiments drawn up by Malaysian scientists, including a study of the effects of microgravity and space radiation on cells and microbes.

"The other members of the expedition have been very helpful to me in every aspect and whatever success I achieve here will not be mine alone but the nation's, after 50 years of Independence," he said.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar is to return to Earth on Oct 21 with two Russians astronauts, Commander Yurchikhin and Kotov of the current ISS crew while Whitson and Malenchenko will stay on.

He became the first Malaysian to go into space through a programme conceived in 2003 when Russia agreed to send a Malaysian to the ISS as part of Malaysia's RM3.4 billion purchase of 18 Russian-made Sukhoi jet fighters.

Some 70 percent of astronauts suffer from space motion sickness during their first 24 to 48 hours in weightlessness. But Shiekh Muszaphar Shukor, an orthopedic doctor chosen from 11,000 candidates for a round-trip to the station, told reporters in a space-to-ground news conference Monday that he has not felt sick during his first six days in microgravity.

"You know what? I'm actually quite surprised how I responded to space. I was expecting much worse than this," Shukor said.

"When I first arrived to microgravity in space, I didn't really have the feeling for any vomiting, dizziness or anything like that. So I feel really great. I feel fantastic right now."

Shukor is flying under a $25 million contract between the Malaysian government and the Russian Federal Space Agency that's part of a larger, $900 million deal for 18 Russian military jet fighters.

A Muslim flying during the holy month of Ramadan, Shukor was excused from dawn-to-dusk fasting by Malaysian clerics, but he does face Earth, and thus Mecca, during daily prayers.

"The first time I looked out the window and I saw the view of Earth, it was such an amazing feeling. It was so spectacular that my heart stopped beating and my eyes stopped blinking," Shukor said. "It was such an amazing feeling to see and feel how close I am to God's creation, and I do hope to come back and share all of my experiences with all of the people all over the world."

Shukor traveled to the international outpost aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft launched Wednesday from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. He was accompanied by the core of the 16th resident crew of the station -- U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko.

Shukor will carry out a series of science experiments and photograph the Earth during his nine-day stint at the station. He will return to Earth on Sunday with two departing Expedition 15 crew members, current outpost commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineer Oleg Kotov, who have been living and working on the outpost since April.

The third Expedition 15 crew member -- NASA astronaut Clay Anderson -- is scheduled to fly home with the crew of shuttle Discovery about Nov. 6.

Whitson, who served as the first science officer on the station during the fifth expedition to the station in 2002, will take the helm of the outpost on Friday. She will be the first female outpost commander.

U.S. astronaut Pam Melroy, meanwhile, is scheduled to lead a station assembly crew on a mission to deliver the U.S. Harmony module to the outpost later this month.

That flight is set for launch on Oct. 23 and if all goes as planned, it will be the first time two women have simultaneously commanded space missions.

Malaysia's first astronaut is an inspiration to schoolchildren who dream of following in his footsteps.

And 24 schoolchildren were motivated to study harder to realise that dream after speaking with Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor yesterday morning.

The schoolchildren, from SMK Vivekananda Brickfields and SMK Aminuddin Baki, spent about nine minutes chatting to Dr Muszaphar about his time in space.

"The radio contact with Dr Muszaphar was a success," said National Space Agency director-general Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman.

Under the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station programme, a direct radio link between the National Planetarium satellite ground station and the ISS was made at 1.19am.

Dr Muszaphar and the three other finalists in the selection to go to space are certified amateur radio operators, or ham radio operators.

They were trained for more than a year by the National Space Agency before the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission granted them their licences.

A video conference scheduled on Sunday at 9.04pm between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Dr Muszaphar was called off due to a technical glitch at the Mission Control Centre, 31km from Moscow.

Dr Muszaphar was doing well, Mazlan said after speaking to him.

"He enjoyed his Hari Raya food package, which included rendang tok and satay, with the other crew members."

It was the experience of a lifetime for the students who took turns asking Dr Muszaphar questions.

Fourteen-year-old Michele Fernandez Joseph was ecstatic, saying that her interest in science, especially astronomy, had deepened.

Mohd Danial Faiq, 17, said he would always remember those precious few seconds.

Yesterday's communication was the first of four sessions.

Radio contact will be made for SK Bukit Damansara (tomorrow, 12.28am), SM Sri Bistari (Thursday, 11.39pm) and SMK Kiaramas (Sunday, 10.50pm).

Speaking to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis via videoconferencing from the International Space Station yesterday, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said he took time off from his experiments to assist the other crew members. 

"The crew are really helpful, they are teaching me the techniques of gravity movement as I have been sleeping in one location and waking up in another." 

"I am really proud to be working with the Russians and Americans," he said. 

Dr Jamaluddin told him that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was really looking forward to speak to him and hoped it could be done today.

"I can't wait to get back and share my experiences with all Malaysians, and I thank each and everyone for his support," he said. 

He said the view of Earth from the ISS was amazing, adding "my heart stopped beating and my eyes stopped blinking." 

Dr Jamaluddin also spoke to flight engineer Yuri Malechencko, who said he enjoyed the Malaysian food that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar brought. 

"I loved the banana roll and dried mango, the other food was a bit too spicy," Malechencko said. 

Dr Jamaluddin later told reporters he would propose to the Cabinet to declare Oct 10 each year as Hari Angkasawan. 

He said the Japanese wanted to have a joint venture with Malaysia, in which the Malaysian astronaut would conduct research and development, but due to time and limited experiments that could be conducted it was impossible. 

"We hope that when we send our second astronaut, this would be possible," he said.

Malaysia's first man in space, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, served the dishes on Sunday to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with the crew at the ISS.

Dr Muszaphar also brought dried mango and banana cake from Malaysia.

"They loved the food although some are not into spicy food. I'm very happy to bring our Malaysian culture here," he said via video conference from the ISS with Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis, who was at the Astro office in Technology Park Malaysia.

Dr Muszaphar said he was amazed at the sight that greeted him when he looked out of the window of the ISS.

"The first time I saw Earth from space, it was just amazing. I was touched by the magnificent sight."

He also expressed disappointment at not being able to speak to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Sunday due to some technical problems.

Dr Muszaphar said he was getting along well with the other crew members who were very helpful.

"They helped me with my movements in a microgravity area which is very difficult. I went to sleep last night and woke up in a different area in the morning."

Jamaludin said he would suggest to the cabinet to make Oct 10 (the day Dr Muszaphar lifted off to space) the National Angkasawan Day.

Besides this being part of the food in space experiment, a project undertaken by Mardi to test Malaysia's capability in preparing food for space, it was also a symbolic gesture. 

In the past, astronauts and cosmonauts of other nationalities had also brought along their local food to be shared. These included Italian pizza and French cheese. 

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar's task is also to evaluate the food.  

The other crew members who consumed the food would be asked to fill up a questionnaire as part of the evaluation. 

The food are all compressed and made suitable for the ISS environment. 

"So far, everything is great, everyone is fine and very helpful. It’s nice in an international community for a Malaysian to work with the Russians and Americans," he said in his first conversation with Prof A. Rahman A. Jamal. 

He said the crew members had on the first day familiarised him with the ISS, "especially where the toilet is." 

On his meals, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar said the ISS was like a five-star hotel and the food was good.  

He said he felt that he looked "fat in space". 

Dr Sheikh Muszpahar also passed on a message to his family. "Tell my mum especially not to worry about me," he said. 

He also wished all Malaysians Selamat Hari Raya and promised to make Malaysia proud.

National Space Agency director-general Datuk Mazlan Othman and the students from SM Vivekananda Brickfields chatted with Dr Sheikh Muszaphar via a radio link from the planetarium’s satellite ground station. 

"I needed some time to adapt at the ISS and now I am very comfortable," he said, adding that he had satay, rendang and nasi beryiani in space for Hari Raya as planned.

The students took turns to ask Dr Sheikh questions for 10 minutes when they managed to get connected at 1.17am today. 

The station at the planetarium had been given permission by the Amateur Radio International Space Station and the Communication and Multimedia Malaysia Commission to contact him through radio frequency. 

Live communication sessions will also be held with SK Bukit Damansara students in Kuala Lumpur (Oct 17, 12.28am), Sekolah Sri Bestari in Petaling Jaya (Oct 18, 11.39pm) and SMK Kiaramas in Persiaran Duta Emas (Oct 20, 10.50pm).

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor said: "Everything is fine. I'm in good shape."

He also requested his family not to worry about him.

"Selamat Hari Raya to everyone. Please tell my mum that everything's fine and that she needn't worry. I'm all right."

Dr Muszaphar was speaking last night from the International Space Station to Angkasawan programme director Col Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh.

He said this in reply to Dr Zulkeffeli's query about his health and if everything was fine aboard the ISS.

However, the scheduled 10-minute window for communication between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Dr Muszaphar did not materialise due to a technical glitch.

It was later established that the problem was due to a fault at the Mission Control Centre, 31km from Moscow.

Another replacement slot has been given for another link-up with Malaysia tomorrow from 9.04pm to 9.16pm Malaysian time.

In Putrajaya, Debra Chong reports that Abdullah and wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah were seated and prepared for the video conference from their home in Seri Perdana but had to make do with an impromptu interview with the television anchor instead.

A video conference is only possible when the ISS is in orbit directly above Russia. This happens once every 90 minutes. Due to transmission problems between Mission Control and Malaysia, the time slot was missed.

Abdullah said he had wanted to wish Dr Muszaphar "Selamat Hari Raya" and to ask him how the scientific experiments were going.

"I wanted to ask him if he had started the experiments. He is not in space to enjoy the view of Earth below but has duties to fulfil while at the International Space Station," Abdullah said.

He said Malaysia might not have the capacity to build its own spacecraft but would continue to join the space programmes of other countries to gain experience and do research.

"It is a big step towards becoming a developed country, which we will be in 2020, and we have to take this step now and not wait for 10 years or it will be too late," he said.

Also present was Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis.

The video conference was to have started at 8.20pm. It was scheduled to be aired over RTM TV1, TV3 and Astro.