Space Farce: The Intricacies of Ramadan in Orbit

We might not have heard much about this in Singapore, but Malaysia is going to be sending someone to space. It does certainly fit the kind of mega-project attitude that developing countries use to put themselves on the map. Except in this case, technically, the guy will be nowhere on the map.

The project to send a Malaysian to space was conceived back in 2003, when Malaysia put it in as part of a deal with Russia when they bought a billion (say it like Austin) dollars worth of Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets. How exactly fighter jets and a man in space are directly related is anyone’s guess.

From the thousands of Malaysian’s all over the country who applied to be First Astronaut, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, a 35 year-old orthopedic surgeon and university lecturer from Kuala Lumpur, was finally chosen. He will blast off on October 10th--making it into space midway into the fasting month--and will celebrate Hari Raya while in orbit.

Now, there are several things that are a bit out of kilter here. First, astronauts are usually some of the finest pilots on the face of this earth, and even if they are not great pilots, they have one thing in common--a penchant for booze and cigarettes. In fact, this is almost a pre-requisite of being an astronaut. NASA scientists and psychologists say that while fitness is important, going into space is also an extremely stressful event, basically because of all the buttons you have to press and all that 'to infinity and beyond' stuff.

So the function of smoking and drinking is just to relieve stress in the shortest time possible.

By logic, having to fast in space will just increase the stress level, which is not ideal for someone going to space for the first time. Praying is also tricky. Which time zone should one follow? Should you face Mecca? Also, where would you put the mat? There is the smaller matter of gravity to worry about. Things are floating around and stuff.

Malaysia’s Director of Islamic Development, Anan C. Mohd, said "As certain rituals might be difficult due to microgravity, the astronaut can perform them in other ways like reciting them in his heart, as long as the intention is pure.”

Thankfully, to guide would-be Muslim astronauts, Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development has issued a 20-page book of guidelines on observing Ramadan in space.

Surely the easier option in this case is for the astronaut to pay back the fasting days when he comes back down from space. That is a religiously palatable option, many Muslims do it when they break some days of fasting due to sickness for example.

Nevertheless, a proud moment surely for many Malaysians in the country's 50th year of independence. No matter that parts of the country still live in poverty. At least they'll conquer space.