Muslim Astronauts First to Fast in Space

Since maintaining Islamic beliefs is mandatory for Muslims in every situation, time and place, the two astronauts have been given advice on observing their faith in space. Malaysians are hopeful that they may soon see the country's first Muslim astronaut to fast in space next month during Ramadan, which started on September 13th this year. "It will be great if our astronaut chooses to fast. We are looking forward to having him relate his experience of fasting in space," said Anan, an official of Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development.
Malaysia's two finalists for the voyage, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and Faiz Khaleed, a Muslim doctor and an army dentist are being trained in Moscow, Russia to vie for a slot in the 11-day space mission that starts on October 10. Malaysia's would-be astronauts were chosen from 12,000 of hopefuls in a nation-wide contest.The project was conceived in 2003 when Russia agreed to send a Malaysian to the space station as part of a billion-dollar purchase of 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets.Other Muslims who have gone to space include Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan bin Salman, who went aboard the U.S. shuttle Discovery in 1985, and Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian-American telecommunications entrepreneur who went to the ISS in September 2006.In order to standardize muslim astronauts' behaviour in space, Islamic scholars worked out a guideline booklet early this year, which says the direction of Mecca should be determined "according to the capability" of the astronaut:
1. PrayersThe two astronauts are expected to face a structure called the Kaaba in Mecca when they offer their five daily prayers, while they got instruction that they will be allowed to pray flexibly in zero gravity.Before that, Malaysia's Islamic scholars discussed a lot on the problems Muslim space travellers might face, such as how to pray in space in the face of difficulties pinpointing the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia and holding the prayer position in a zero-gravity environment.
2. EatingThose in space during the holy month of Ramadan — during which Muslims are required to fast, foregoing food, water and other sensual pleasures from sunrise to sunset — can choose to fast then or make up for it when they return to Earth aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. (If they choose to fast in space, the space station travels around the world at 17,000mph (27,400km/h) with 16 orbits a day.)
3. DressingThe astronaut must be dressed decently whenever in public view, which involves covering at least the portion of the body between the navel and the knees for men.