Science

Orbiting the Earth No Excuse for Not Eating Halal

When in space, which way’s Mecca? That and other pressing questions of Muslim astronaut etiquette will soon be answered by Malaysia’s National Space Agency. In October, the first Malaysian astronauts will travel to the International Space Station. The guideline booklet, published this month, says the direction should be determined "according to the capability" of the […]

Nur
When in space, which way's Mecca?

That and other pressing questions of Muslim astronaut etiquette will soon be answered by Malaysia's National Space Agency. In October, the first Malaysian astronauts will travel to the International Space Station.

The guideline booklet, published this month, says the direction should be determined "according to the capability" of the astronaut.

Those in space during the holy fasting month of Ramadan - when Muslims are required to go without food or water from sunrise to sunset - can choose to fast then or to make up for it when they return, the booklet says. [...]

If Muslim astronauts doubt whether a meal is halal, or prepared according to Islamic rules, they "should consume it only to the extent of restraining hunger," the guidelines say.

Malaysia to Issue Rules for Astronaut [Associated Press]

Image: Diffan San

Note: The first thing I thought of upon seeing this story was "Wanita Cosmos," a brilliant short animation about an ordinary Malaysian woman chosen to by her country to go to space. Directed by Diffan San, it debuted in Resfest (By Design) in 2004 and, sadly, is nowhere to be found on the web (at least, not by me). If someone out there has a link, can you send it along, and we can reintroduce Wanita to the world?