Interesting Experiment By Malaysian Astronaut

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's first astronaut, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha today conducted five experiments in microgravity condition at the International Space Station (ISS).

The first was the spinning of the Malaysian traditional game gasing (top), where he attached a string to a 95 gramme top made of aluminium and let it spin in mid air in horizontal and vertical position for less than a minute.

In the second experiment, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar pressed a ration bag which contained strawberry juice which within seconds came out in a jelly-like substance floating in mid air.

He later took a spoon to pick the floating jelly and put it into his mouth.

The third experiment involved the mixing of oil and water in a square shaped crystal box where in the microgravity condition the oil and water mixed well. In normal situation oil floats on top of water.

In his fourth experiment Dr Sheikh Muszaphar showed the audience on earth how a yoyo would swing in microgravity condition.

In a normal situation, a yoyo goes up and down when in play but in a microgravity condition, the yoyo goes up, down and to the front as well.

In his last experiment, he showed the difference in the speed of three balls of different sizes, travelling in microgravity condition.

The movement of the balls was like in a slow-motion movement.

The live video conference about microgravity with Malaysian astronaut was telecast live by Astro and also watched by students brought specially to the National Science Centre here which was also attended by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar and Deputy Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha.

During the 10-minute experiment, Sheikh Muszaphar wore a short-sleeved batik shirt. The Jalur Gemilang was hanging on the background. Kong also asked Dr Sheikh Muszaphar what was his biggest challenge at the ISS.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar replied that his biggest challenge was to sleep in the same place like on earth.

He said he slept in one place and found himself on the next day waking up in a different place, adding that he had to strap himself to the bed in order not to float to another place.

Saying that he was doing well, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar also advised the students to study hard and show keen interest in science subjects.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Noh said the ministry would look into the possibility of introducing new subjects related to microgravity and space science.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar is scheduled to return to Earth on Oct 21 with two Russians astronauts, Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov.

The Soyuz TMA-11, which brought Dr Sheikh Muszaphar to the ISS with two other crew members, blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on October 10.

--BERNAMA