THE sky, or rather outer space, has always been the subject of fascination for mankind. The moon, being the nearest satellite to our planet, is always an interesting object to study.
Likewise, the twinkling stars and the mysteries that surround space have given rise to many tales and lore, most of them fictitious in nature.
It is no surprise then that man regards space as the final frontier that remains to be explored.
In the Quran, there are many verses that touch on the vastness of space and the objects which occupy it, such as the planets and the stars.
All these verses point towards the power and might of the Creator. One interesting verse is verse 33 of Surah al-Rahman which states to the effect that: “If it be ye can pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, pass ye! Not without authority shall ye be able to pass!”
This verse implies that, among others, mankind can indeed explore the vastness of the final frontier with the knowledge given to man by God Almighty. As such, all throughout the history of man’s civilisation, man has always tried to explore space–first with telescopes, and later with satellites, rockets and space probes.
Perhaps the words of Neil Armstrong summed up the importance of space exploration when he landed on the moon on July 21, 1969–“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
The giant leap that mankind made with the moon landing some 31 years ago was, perhaps, the beginning of the space age. Nonetheless the extremely high cost of space science restricted further explorations to mere theories on paper.
That, however, did not stop the Americans and Russians from embarking on a space race which, during the Cold War, had some positive effects. It catapulted space science into new dimensions. The need to be the leader in space science succeeded in opening up new possibilities and discoveries.
Space, many say, is the stuff of dreams. The possibilities are just endless. Jules Verne dared to visualise mankind setting foot on the moon in his novel From the Earth to the Moon way back in 1866. A little over a century later, his vision came true.
It is true that most things began as a dream or a vision. The will to make the vision a reality would often catapult its dreamer (or visionary) to success. Impossible though most dreams may seem at the beginning, they are oftentimes achievable if important ingredients such as perseverance, determination, government support, political will and financial backing are present.
These are the underlying criteria for most success stories. In Malaysia’s case, perhaps one good example is the nation’s automotive industry.
What was thought of as unachievable 15 years ago is today taken for granted. The automotive industry has proved to be a success story and a reality.
Now Malaysia is making another bold move and this time into the space age. Malaysia has thus far launched MEASAT-1 and MEASAT-2 since several years ago.
On Sept 26, it made history with the successful launch of its first micro-satellite, known as TiungSAT-1. With this launch, Malaysia is expected to leapfrog into the space age.
Many would argue that space science is an expensive science. The technology it requires is costly. The rate of success of space science endeavours is usually small if compared to the staggering bill in running a project.
The entire TiungSAT-1 project costs about RM50mil, which, in reality, is very small in this particular area of science. The amount spent on the micro-satellite has to be matched with its benefits.
It is an indisputable fact that in an age where instantaneous communication is vital, satellites play a crucial role.
Owning our own satellites would certainly be of great benefit as many applications today rely heavily on wireless communication. This, in turn, would be the key towards the success of the Multimedia Super Corridor project.
Space industry and information and communication technology (ICT) can indeed complement each other. With the eye in the sky, Malaysia hopes that it can become a catalyst for future development in the country’s venture into outer space. This venture can come in many forms.
Undeniably this space venture will spin off related industries. Space-related industries in the country are rare today. Hopefully, with the success of TiungSAT-1, entrepreneurs will be attracted to undertake the development of Malaysia’s very own space industry.
Of course this would require ample human resources in the area of astronomy, physics and the like.
As such, Malaysian students can opt to do these courses to provide for the niche in the job market when the space industry picks up.
This would also spur institutes of higher learning, in particular in the country, to provide courses relating to space science, which are currently still lacking.
The possibilities and opportunities are indeed endless when it comes to this field of knowledge. Putting satellites in space may just be the beginning of better things to come.
Some years ago there was talk of putting the first Malaysian man into space and subsequently on the moon.
This as-yet-to-be-accomplished dream may still be some years away, but TiungSAT-1 is certainly the right start towards stamping our mark in space exploration.
The spirit of Malaysia Boleh has taken Malaysians to conquer the peak of the highest mountain in the world, to successfully circumnavigate the world and to set foot on the North Pole.
No doubt the same spirit of achievement can make the dream of seeing the first Malaysian astronaut a reality.
This is very much in line with God’s words in verse 11 of Surah al-Ra’d:”Verily never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves.”
If we believe in something and strive our very best to achieve it, more often than not, God will grant success to our enterprise.
The same is true for Malaysia’s space age. We have to put our best effort in starting this endeavour.
TiungSAT-1 may be a micro-satellite–a small eye in the sky for Malaysia–but it has certainly succeeded in turning our eyes towards the sky.