The media has been feeding us with the angkasawan craze almost everyday until I become so fat that Atkins wouldn’t be able to help. I drive to office every morning, I see Rapid KL buses decal in angkasawan placards. Call me ignorant … but I wasn’t sure of the meaning and difference between astronaut and cosmonaut so I decided to wiki it through. In the US and any other English speaking nations, the term astronaut is used. In Russia, the same space traveller is referred as a cosmonaut.

In general, astronaut and cosmonaut are synonymous but the usage of choice is often dictated by political reason - the result of the cold war, I guess. However, if you strip the ~naut from the first two syllables, that brought a different meaning.

Both words are derived from Greek. Astro means star while cosmo is universe. So should there or should there not now, be a difference of these two? Could an astronaut then, is a person who specializes in the study of stars and planets and cosmonaut studies the universe, which is a bigger field? Nevertheless, I’m no language expert to argue the right terms of usage.

The Chinese government for example, call their astronaut as “yuhanguan”, which literally translated to “space person”. In Malay, we call a space person an “angkasawan“, also literally translated. However, in the Western media, a Chinese astronaut is called taikonaut. The origin of the term was doubted because simultenously, Chiew Lee Yih (from Malaysia, yeah … Malaysia Boleh!) popularized it in internet newsgroup while Chen Lan used it in the Western media.

Back to the essence of my argument. Is our first angkasawan something that Malaysians should be proud of? Can we proudly say that we have conquered the space? In my personal opinion, and I stress, this is just my two-cents thoughts, I am half-heartedly proud.

Why am I splitting my vote?

I’m proud because we have proved to the world that we Malaysians are as tough and intelligent as other nationals. Going into space with a mission is not something to be taken lightly. Our first angkasawan Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, flew up there to conduct experiment (teh tarik and roti canai in space?) on behalf of our scientists who have been preparing their studies for the past 3 years. It is also a great leap for the Muslim world, especially of science because when he returns, Dr. Muszaphar is expected to share his experience on how the Islamic practise such as performing prayers and fasting could be carried out in space. This is something that greatly interest me, in understanding other religious practise than of my own, Christiniaty. I can’t for example, google for “Guide to Christian for outer space”. The Muslim world has and it’s impressive! Maybe I didn’t research throughly enough. For instance, similar to Muslim’s fasting month, how do Catholics perform lent in space? Has there been theological study on this?

(Pic courtesy of The Star)

On the other half of my heart, I am less proud. Can we regard this first ever Malaysian mission as successful? Bear in mind, our angkasawan is only a passenger. It’s the Russian technology that made it possible. Or rather sinistically, it was the purchase of 10 Sukhoi Su-30 MKN jet fighters that made it a dream comes through for Dr. Muszaphar. Hence my argument, is this our success or this is our achievement? That’s two different meaning. I will consider it our own buatan (made in) Malaysia success if, we have flown on our own rocket, manned by our people, from our own land. It would be even a greater success if the astronaut comes from an ANGKASA academy, just like how Liverpool Academy had produced stars such as Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen.

I was in the pub with an English friend when we watched the RTM1 live feed from Baikonur. Here was our interesting conversation:

Me: You know. I personally am less proud of this.
Friend: Why? It’s your nation’s first astronaut into space.
Me: Yes, true. But we are only a passenger not driver.
Friend: You have a point …
Me: Tell me. How many British astronauts do you have now?
(long pause …)
Friend: Can’t think of one.
(long pause again …)
Friend: You’re right. We didn’t have any. We don’t have our own rocket.

I googled through the Astronaut & Cosmonaut directory. Helen Patricia Shaman was the only British that has been in space. Her 1991 Soyuz quest was a medical and Earth observation experiments for British scientist, privately funded by Antequera Ltd. Of course, another British-born astronaut was Piers John Sellers but he was an American national then. What is my point? Shaman, like Dr. Muszaphar, is just a passenger. Mike Melvill was the first person to travel to outerspace on an entirely private funded mission. Having said that, one fine day, Dato’ Tony Fernandes would make it possible to achieve every Malaysians dream … “Now everyone can fly to the moon!”

I can put my money on the table that when our angkasawan returns to earth, he’ll be known as Datuk Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar. He’ll have a headache to choose career offers from many potential employers or may even been offered advertising deals that worth at least hundreds of thousands if not millions of Ringgit. Lucky you!

Nevertheless, I see our first angkasawan as an inspiration to our young Malaysians. May they believe that they could achieve their dreams if they instill discipline and persistence in themselves. Hopefully we have more taikonauts in the future. After all, I could have been in Dr. Muszaphar’s place right now. I applied for ANGKASA’s program but did not turn up for the shortlisting.

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