Malaysia's first astronaut, a Muslim who will be in space during the fasting month of Ramadan, will not be compelled to forego food and water, and will likely pray only three times a day instead of five, a minister said yesterday.
Malaysian Science Minister Jamaluddin Jarjis said: “When you travel, there is no compulsion to fast.''
Shaikh Muszaphar Shukor, 35, is one of three people who will lift off in a Russian space craft on October 10 en route to the International Space Station for a 10-day mission.
He has said that as a good Muslim he hopes to fast in space even though his main priority is to conduct scientific experiments.
Jamaluddin said Shaik Muszaphar and his backup, Faiz Khaleed, have been fasting during training but when one of them eventually goes up to space he can postpone the fasting until after he returns.
The fasting month of Ramadan started on September 13 and is expected to end on October 12, which means Shaikh Muszaphar will have to fast for only two or three days if he insists on not eating from dawn to dusk, an per Islamic religious requirements.
