First Muslim to Fast Ramadan in Space

" Gagarin " Ready for Space Ramadan.

STAR CITY- Malaysia's soon-to-be first astronaut is looking forward to observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan in space.

Muszaphar is expected to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) about a Russian Soyuz rocket on October 10 in a 11-days space mission before returning to Earth.

clipped from www.islamonline.net Muszaphar hopes to inspire youth in Malaysia. (Reuters) "As a Muslim I do hope to do my responsibilities. I do hope to fast in space," Muszaphar Shukor told reporters on Thursday, September 20, from the Russian Cosmonaut Training Center Star City, reported Agence France Presse (AFP). The 35-year-old doctor has been training at Star City for the last year alongside army dentist Faiz Khaleed, a back-up astronaut who is also a Muslim. Muszaphar's inspiration to be an astronaut was Yury Gagarin, the Soviet national who was the first human in space. Muszaphar will be the ninth Muslim to cross the 100-km boundary above Earth, considered to be the defining line for outer space. Malaysian students from several selected schools will be motivated to increase their interests in science and technology through a radio link-up with him.