KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, the first Malaysian to go to space, is making preparations for his return to earth on Sunday from the orbiting International Space Station (ISS).
He will return with Fyodor Yurchikhin and Oleg Kotov in the Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft which the two Russian cosmonauts had used to go to the ISS in April on Expedition 15.
National Angkasawan Programme Director Col Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh said the spacecraft carrying the three astronauts was expected to land in the Arkylk region of Kazakhstan, some 1,500km from Moscow.
For the return journey, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor has to ensure that his weight is 82kg, just as it was when he left for the ISS on Oct 10 aboard the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft which is now docked at the ISS.
"If his weight has exceeded the 82kg while in the ISS, he will be required to reduce his weight through exercise in a special cubicle in the ISS. This is to maintain equilibrium in the Soyuz spacecraft the three astronauts will be returning to earth in," he told Bernama when contacted in Moscow today.
Dr Zulkeffeli said he would leave for Qostanay in Kazakhstan, not far from where the Soyuz capsule was expected to land, to bring Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor to Moscow.
"I have to be there to give Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor a medical examination. He will be brought to a temporary medical centre before being taken to the nearest airport to be flown to the Star City astronaut training centre in Moscow," he said.
He said the Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft was expected to land at 2.37pm Moscow time (6.37pm in Malaysia), and that it would take eight hours after landing to reach the Russian capital.
Dr Zulkeffeli said the preparations Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor had to make included relocating his special seat to the Soyuz spacecraft and listing the paraphernalia he would bring back to earth with him.
The Malaysian astronaut is allowed to carry up to seven kilogrammes of paraphernalia, including the findings of his research projects and personal belongings.
"By right, he is only allowed to carry up to five kilogrammes but the European Space Agency (ESA) acceded to our request to allow the additional two kilogrammes," he said.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor had also conducted experiments for ESA on the effects of micro gravity on the back of the human body, motor perception, resilience before and after being in the ISS, and stability of sight and the body.
The two astronauts who went to the ISS along with Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor in the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft, Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko, will take the place of Yurchinkhin and Kotov on the ISS. Another astronaut, Clay Anderson, is also on board the ISS.
Yurchinkhin will hand over command of the ISS to Whitson on Sunday.
-- BERNAMA
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