First Malaysian In Space?

So what?! That was the first question I asked myself. That was at the time when my application to be an astronaut was rejected. That was four years ago.

So what?! This is the question I ask myself now. This is the question I ask when I found out that the Malaysia's supposedly first astronaut is nothing more than a payload. A pissing, shitting, moving, dead-weight payload at that. NASA called him "Spaceflight Participant". I call him a waste of tax money. Now, I don't feel so bad about my application being rejected. Getting selected for this, although filled with momentary moments of euphoria, it will inevitably drag down my name to bed with the worms.

In order to commemorate this...wasteful 'achievement', the Malaysian government insists that he will conduct experiments. Real experiments. Serious real experiments. And if the grapevine is to be believed, seriously laughable real experiments. Some years back, some idiot of an MP (then again, which MP isn't an idiot?) suggested in Parliament that this 'spaceflight participant' conducts experiments to make teh tarik...in space! なんと！？！I was laughing so hard then my stomach almost burst open. Mind you that that was just one of those bonehead suggestions spouted and I have no idea how many of those nonsense was forwarded to NASA. Their reasoning is equally idiotic: to bring Malaysian culture into space??? Looking at the approved menu, I think they'll brag about the nasi briyani this 'spaceflight participant' will have there.

So, is this a great achievement? Hmmm......let's see. We have ...oh, waitaminute, look at this list! So many astronauts! Even better, look at this! Wow! Malaysians should really be proud! I feel that Dennis Tito has more respect. At least he didn't pretend to be something other than a tourist.