Malaysian astronaut: The final 4 with...

It’s down to the final four Malaysian astronaut candidates. And one of them is a woman, engineer S. Vanajah.The other three are Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, dentist Dr Faiz Khaleed and pilot Mohammed Faiz Kamaluddin. They were the final group whittled down from the initial 11,000 applicants.The announcement was made today by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who said the final four had been found to be competent after all the mental and physical tests."We adopted a very scientific and objective approach in selecting the astronauts, because the one person who will finally represent the country should be better than the others," he said at the Royal Malaysia Air Force base in Subang .He said the selected candidates would next undergo two weeks of stringent training in Moscow, after which the final two would be selected.Both the chosen candidates will undergo a further 18-month stint at Star City Moscow, before the final person is picked for the International Space Station (ISS) expedition in October next year.Malaysia’s astronaut programme was part of a package deal arising from Malaysia’s purchase of 18 Sukhoi SU-30MKN fighter jets from Russia.Najib added that the Russian Government had offered in return a place for a Malaysian to join Russian cosmonauts on the expedition to the ISS in October."The entire process has generated a lot of national interest and the person finally selected has to be the creme de la creme," he said."That candidate will be representing Malaysia."Cost of Malaysia's astronaut programme: RM92.9m to be offset as part of the RM3.34b defence deal to buy 18 Sukhoi SU-30MKN fighter jets from Russia Dr Sheikh Muszaphar ShukorAge: 34Occupation: Medical doctorMarital status: Single Q: What are your chances of winning?A: I am a very focused person. When I put my mind to it, I believe I can achieve anything.Q: How will you react if you are not in the final two?A: Anything can happen. But if I am not selected, I will continue to impart my knowledge of astronomy and get more youths involved in it.Q: Why do you think you should be selected?A: I have the right attitude. I have both the mental and physical strength. At the moment, I jog and swim daily to build my strength. I am also learning Russian so that I will be able to converse with them during the two-week training there.Q: Did you expect to win?A: It was a mixed feeling. One part knew I did well but another part told me that the other seven were also good. Q: Is it true you are also a part-time model?A: Yes, I have been modelling for the past two years. But my real passion is medicine and astronomy. Both have fascinated me since I was 10 years old.Q: How badly do you want to win?A: I would do anything. I would sacrifice my life just to go to outer space.Q: Are you ready for the challenges in Russia?A: I know it is going to be very difficult but I am giving my best shot to achieve my life-long dream.S. VanajahAge: 35Occupation: Senior quality engineerMarital status: SingleQ: When did you learn you’d made the final four?A: At 11am today. All four of us were called to the National Space Agency. We were told to take our seats and the officials at the agency broke the news.Q: What was your initial reaction?A: I was stunned. I was shocked. I then took hold of myself and was proud to have made it this far.Q: How has the programme changed your life?A: I get so many people, especially women of all races and religions coming up to me, holding my hands and telling me they are praying for me. Q: How do you feel being the only woman in the programme?A: For the first time in my life, I see gender-equality. Both men and women go through the same mental and physical tests. They are selected not on gender but capability. I feel honoured and I hope I have inspired women to work harder to achieve their dreams.Q: What are your hopes?A: I wish there were more women standing with me today. If I could make it this far, there are other women who are better than me and could have made it too.Q: Who is your greatest supporter?A: My dad.Q: When did you first develop an interest in astronomy?A: Since I was 10, I have wondered what was beyond the sky and what made the stars shine so brightly. I often looked up at nights to study the pattern of the stars and wonder how I could go there to learn more about them.Q: What are your chances of being picked as the winner?A: I have made it this far and I have the mental and physical strength to pull through more stringent tests in Russia.Q: What are your plans after the programme?A: I want to be involved with the National Space Agency and run programmes and activities to interest youths in the programme and exploration of outer space.Q: How would you describe yourself?A: I am a very active person. I jog, swim and go to the gym. I love travelling and discovering new things. I look forward to going to Russia.Dr Faiz KhaleedAge: 26 Occupation: Dental surgeonMarital status: Single Q: What have you learnt from this experience?A: I have learnt to conquer fear and work as a team with my colleagues. Each time I made it through to the next round, I felt very excited. I feel I am finally getting a chance to make my nation proud. I will work hard and take the necessary risks to reach the final stage. If I am chosen, it would be the best moment in my life.Q: How would you feel if you are not picked?A: Well, actually, not that sad. The way I see it, it is about making the country proud. I will support whomever is chosen.Q: Have you discovered anything new about yourself through this experience?A: I’ll tell you one thing: It’s all about the mind. It’s like you are more than what you can do. If you are focused, your body is really stronger than you think. Your mind is a lot stronger than you might think. So it is good for me to be out of the comfort zone.Q: How have you found all the tests so far?A: It gets harder each time. But I expected that. I am looking forward to tougher challenges.Q: What has been your toughest moment so far?A: Using the centrifuge, and surviving in the jungle with sleep deprivation. But I don’t see it as a problem. It is something you learn. You can still work. If you are focused, you can do anything. I am so glad I joined this programme.Q: How have you coped with learning Russian as well?A: It’s tough, but I am learning a few words like "how do you" and "hello". It’s about how to learn a new language. In three nights, I learnt how to learn Russian, so that gave me the basics.Q: Is it true you have never been abroad?A: Yes. It looks like my first trip out of Malaysia could be to Russia and then, hopefully, to space.Mohammed Faiz KamaluddinAge: 34Occupation: Commercial airline pilot, Malaysia AirlinesMarital status: Married with two children aged 5 and 3Q: How are you preparing for the next stage?A: Keeping physically fit and sticking to a balanced diet. Learning to cope with challenges using mental and spiritual strength. I’m also learning the Russian language and Russian culture.Q: Do you think you can be the first astronaut?A: I will give it my best shot. Every one of us has our strengths and weaknesses. Just hope for the best.Q: How is your family taking your participation?A: My wife is supportive. Our two children are still too young to know what I’m doing. Unfortunately, I will have to leave them behind should I be chosen as one of the final two.Q: Have you always wanted to be an astronaut?A: I think everyone has a dream to be an astronaut. I did not really think I would get this far when I registered for the programme two years ago.Q: How has the competition been to reach this stage?A: The competition is within ourselves. I have to prove to myself I can be better.Q: How has learning Russian been?A: Like taking a crash course.Dr Faiz KhaleedAge: 26 Occupation: Dental surgeonMarital status: Single Q: What have you learnt from this experience?A: I have learnt to conquer fear and work as a team with my colleagues. Each time I made it through to the next round, I felt very excited. I feel I am finally getting a chance to make my nation proud. I will work hard and take the necessary risks to reach the final stage. If I am chosen, it would be the best moment in my life.Q: How would you feel if you are not picked?A: Well, actually, not that sad. The way I see it, it is about making the country proud. I will support whomever is chosen.Q: Have you discovered anything new about yourself through this experience?A: I’ll tell you one thing: It’s all about the mind. It’s like you are more than what you can do. If you are focused, your body is really stronger than you think. Your mind is a lot stronger than you might think. So it is good for me to be out of the comfort zone.Q: How have you found all the tests so far?A: It gets harder each time. But I expected that. I am looking forward to tougher challenges.Q: What has been your toughest moment so far?A: Using the centrifuge, and surviving in the jungle with sleep deprivation. But I don’t see it as a problem. It is something you learn. You can still work. If you are focused, you can do anything. I am so glad I joined this programme.Q: How have you coped with learning Russian as well?A: It’s tough, but I am learning a few words like "how do you" and "hello". It’s about how to learn a new language. In three nights, I learnt how to learn Russian, so that gave me the basics.Q: Is it true you have never been abroad?A: Yes. It looks like my first trip out of Malaysia could be to Russia and then, hopefully, to space.Mohammed Faiz KamaluddinAge: 34Occupation: Commercial airline pilot, Malaysia AirlinesMarital status: Married with two children aged 5 and 3Q: How are you preparing for the next stage?A: Keeping physically fit and sticking to a balanced diet. Learning to cope with challenges using mental and spiritual strength. I’m also learning the Russian language and Russian culture.Q: Do you think you can be the first astronaut?A: I will give it my best shot. Every one of us has our strengths and weaknesses. Just hope for the best.Q: How is your family taking your participation?A: My wife is supportive. Our two children are still too young to know what I’m doing. Unfortunately, I will have to leave them behind should I be chosen as one of the final two.Q: Have you always wanted to be an astronaut?A: I think everyone has a dream to be an astronaut. I did not really think I would get this far when I registered for the programme two years ago.Q: How has the competition been to reach this stage?A: The competition is within ourselves. I have to prove to myself I can be better.Q: How has learning Russian been?A: Like taking a crash course.