On October 2nd, Taylor’s Speaker Corner and Taylor’s Astronomical Society hosted an open mic event titled “Tales from Outer Space”. This was held in conjunction with World Space Week 2020 which aims to ‘provide unique leverage in space outreach and education’. 

Guest speaker, Vanajah Siva, graced the event by sharing her adventure on how she succeeded to be one of the four finalists in Malaysia’s ANGKASAWAN program in 2006. 

The ANGKASAWAN program was a joint-governments-initiated program by Malaysia and Russia to select one Malaysian representative to send to the International Space Station (ISS). 

For 32 years old Vanajah with unfulfilled dreams of being a pilot, this was her opportunity to reach beyond the skies. To reach the stars. 

And so, she became one of the 11,275 applicants in 2003. 

Two years later, she was called to participate in the ‘Run to the Orbit’ test where she finished 3.5 km in 19 minutes. 

After numerous fitness tests, health check-ups and psychological evaluations, she was accepted into phase 2, Aeromedical II. 

Here, she underwent further health screenings and this time, it was coupled with the altitude chamber and human centrifuge.  

Altitude chambers are designed to prepare people to brace the low oxygen conditions at high altitude to prevent hypoxia. 

(Taken from Vanajah’s Slides) 

(Taken from the European Space Agency) 

Was the challenge over? 

No. 

From a total of 27 candidates in Aeromedical II, only 18 were chosen for the ‘Sea and Land Survival’ test at Malaysia Navy Base (TLDM) in Lumut. 

Left at sea after being toppled from boats, they swam to shore and thought they were done. 

They weren’t. 

Face plastered on the ground and bodies submerged in swamps, the (yawns) sleep-deprived candidates braced the nocturnal jungle with only a rope as guidance. 

Vanajah shared that they had to memorize a Malay poem, write their names on an unnervingly wrapped figure and recite it when they return. 

Finally, four finalists were chosen and sent to Russia where they were recognized as qualified astronauts after a string of medical tests and evaluations. 

The Four Angkasawan Finalists. From left, Mohammed Faiz, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, Vanajah Siva and Dr Faiz Khaleed. 

(Source: The Star Newspaper) 

On October 10 in 2007, Malaysia’s representative Dr Sheikh Muszaphar boarded the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft with the Expedition 16 crew and was launched into space. 

Throughout the open-mic event, the audience piqued with immense curiosity, and addressed several questions to Vanajah. 

    “Absolutely not. Never once did I think it was not for me. I loved every minute of it. People always         asked me: Aren’t you scared? What if you die if the rocket explodes? Well, there’s actually an even       higher possibility of me dying in a car crash than from a rocket explosion. The point is people die.          What matters is what you are doing when you die.” 

      “Not good” She chuckled. “I felt drunk but without the high and everything was in slow motion.” 

      “I was devastated when I was not selected as the final two. Completely heartbroken. I did not leave         the house for a month.” 

With absolutely no compensation from the government, young Vanajah who also quit her job for ANGKASAWAN was homebound for a month. After such an out-of-this-world experience, how could she return to a mundane life? 

She received many invitations to be a guest speaker at community events. At first, Vanajah was very hesitant because she could not fathom why. 

    “Why would you want to see me? I failed. I didn’t get selected.” 

Fortunately, she took a leap of faith and attended one event. There, people, young and old; women and men, all of them were in awe of her. Finally, Vanajah realized that she was not a complete failure. She is a phenomenal woman who has accomplished such an amazing feat in a decade where women were not highly recognized in STEM. 

During her sharings, Vanajah mentioned the difficulties of being a woman in STEM in Malaysia. Although opportunities were there, societal ideals on those who should have occupied these vacancies were relatively backwards during the 20th century. 

Fortunately, the pathways for Malaysian women in STEM have opened up in recent years. Examples of prominent Malaysian women in STEM includes Dr Siti Kayriyyah Mohd Hanafia (a scientist who won top prize in the FameLab International 2018 competition in United Kingdom), Shu Lam (the scientist who solved the superbug problem at the tender age of 25 years old ) as well as Pearl Wendy Mak, Wang Wen Chien, and Nur Hidayah (they are the first female pilots for Malaysia Airlines). 

After a member from the audience highlighted the fact that Malaysia Airlines have appointed female pilots in 2018, Vanajah wondered why it took this long for us to have female pilots. 

Lastly, she emphasized that STEM in Malaysia especially the astronomy field is relatively rudimental with so much potential and that young Malaysians should step up and be the catalyst for STEM in Malaysia no matter their ethnicity, gender and status quo. 

As the night was still young, the event continued with a dialogue revolving around the World Space Week 2020 theme; “Satellites Improve Life”. 

According to Chris Leong, the President of Taylor’s Astronomical Society, satellites are important for TVs, radios and GPS. 

Adding to that, Mr Dorian raised the concern of ‘blowing up’ used satellites which have led to a ring of space debris surrounding Earth. 

Before indulging further, what is space debris and why is it a concern? 

Chris Leong shared his insight. “Space debris can range from dust to full-on exploded rocket parts. Many may think that the exploded rocket parts are dangerous. It is not.” 

He continued. 

“It is actually the space dust that is dangerous because the ISS moves at a really high speed. Even at this small mass, the large relative velocity would exert a large force on the ISS. The ISS can calibrate their flights to miss those space debris, but they cannot entirely avoid the space dust. Hence, space dust is actually the problem.” 

Metaphorically comparing these space dust as bullets, Mr Dorian also voiced out that space debris is not just an issue to the Space Station (ISS) for this could lead to potential situations in which future space excursions would not be ideal. 

When asked how the issue of space debris can be resolved, Hoh Shan from the audience had something to say. 

“We can make the rocket sturdier or promote reusability like what Elon Musk has done. Solutions that don’t require decoupling the rocket and fewer explosions needed to eject the rocket out of space,” said Ho Shan. 

Other solutions considered were using magnets, nets, lasers, disposing space debris into the sun and even using them as building materials back on Earth. 

Well, to fellow readers, what is your take on this issue? 

Although the astronomy field remains relatively novice in Malaysia, it is one with much potential for growth as humans' appetite for knowledge is insatiable. 

To all astronomy enthusiasts who wish to pursue a career in this field, go for it. 

As what Vanajah said, “I'm just like you. If I could do it, so can you.”

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Taylor's Astronomical Society aims to promote and deepen the interest of astronomy among its members and other Taylorians, as well as serve as a bridge between professional astronomers, amateur astronomers and laymen. For more information, kindly visit their Instagram page @taylors_astronomical_society. 

The Speaker’s Corner is under the purview of Student Engagement Leadership Development (S.E.A.L.), Student Development, and Centre for Future Learning. For bookings, enquiries or collaborations, please contact Mr Dorian Wilde at Dorian.Rajoo@taylors.edu.my.