People
Malaysian Grand Old Man Sangat Singh Connects School Kids With Space Station
SHALINI RAVINDRAN
It was an experience of a lifetime for some 20 pupils as they connected with the International Space Station (ISS) via live radio communication at the National Planetarium.
The pupils from SK Taman Tun Dr Ismail 1 and SJK (C) Puay Chai 2 had the opportunity to ask ISS flight engineer and American astronaut Gregory Reid Wiseman one question each about space and the conditions aboard the station as it passed over Malaysia at 714 pm on November 1, 2014.
As the space station approached local skies, the pupils counted down to the point of radio contact and cheered when they heard Wiseman’s chirpy greetings from outer space coming through the amateur radio set in the National Planetarium’s micro-satellite building.
Led by station controller Sangat Singh, the pupils asked their questions clearly, such as “Is it hard to eat in space?”, “What time zone is observed in space?” and “How does it feel to float in space?”
Held since 2007, the annual event is organised by the National Space Agency (Angkasa) and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.
It is part of the National Space Challenge Programme and held in conjunction with World Space Week which kicks off today (November 8).
Angkasa director-general Dr Nordin Ahmad said the programme was aimed at educating young Malaysians on space and nurturing their minds to become future scientists.
“It is a chance for students to connect with the human element in this field of study. It started in 2007 with our own astronaut, Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha. We usually time it to coincide with the National Space Challenge programme,” he said.
SJK (C) Puay Chai 2 pupil Tan Li Xuan, 12, said he was excited at the chance to pose a question to Wiseman.
“I volunteered to join in the event as I am very interested in this field,” he said.
He said he was surprised at Wiseman’s answer to his question “What language is commonly used at the ISS?
“I was astonished to learn that apart from English, Russian is also used at the ISS. According to Wiseman, many of the astronauts are American and European,” he said.
The ISS was first opened on Nov 2, 2000, by two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut.
[Courtesy: The Star]
November 8, 2014
Conversation about this article
1: Aryeh Leib Lerner (Israel), November 08, 2014, 2:57 PM.
Sangat Singh, you are a gift that keeps on giving. May you continue to do so, in the best of health!
2: Gurbux Singh (Chatsworth. California, USA), November 08, 2014, 10:36 PM.
Well done, Grand Old Man Sangat Singh ji! Exposing kids to our mutual hobby of Amateur (Ham) Radio at an early age and making contact and communicating with the space travelers in the International Space Station has got to be the epitome of fantasy for these young ones. I saw the video on U-Tube and the look of amazement on their faces is something to behold. Too bad I could not be there in person to witness it, like the first time a few years ago.
3: Geet Thakkar (India), November 08, 2014, 10:54 PM.
I have had the pleasure of visiting Sangat Uncle ji at the National Planetarium in Kuala Lumpur. For him, the planetarium is like the first home. To see such dedication and passion towards their work in a person is just amazing. And his love for children and trying to impart knowledge to them is tremendous. We love you Uncle ji and we pray that you keep the best of health and spread your love and affection to all for a long time.
4: Manjeet Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), November 10, 2014, 12:05 AM.
S. Sangat Singh ji: A man for all seasons. Drenched with gurbani. A storehouse of knowledge ranging from plantations, cars, outer space to everything about and around Sikhi. A master of wit and lovely anecdotes. May Waheguru bless him with great health and even more Naam.
5: Harpreet Singh Makkar (Canada), November 11, 2014, 5:22 PM.
Grand he sure is, but Sangat Uncle is not old yet by any means! Kudos to you for doing so much in life and touching lives of so many people. God bless you, always!
6: Gurbux Singh (Chatsworth. California, USA), November 12, 2014, 1:37 PM.
In Amateur Radio, OM (Old Man) is an endearing salutation used to address another Ham, especially when we communicate using the Morse Code. Sangat Singh ji is an experienced Ham Radio operator and is aware of the term OM.
7: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), November 12, 2014, 4:01 PM.
W6BUX De 9M2SS. Tnx OM Gurbux. Coming in 5/9 + For non-Amateurs this is the normal start of contact. 5/9 is the signal report meaning you are coming in with an extremely strong, perfectly readable signal. In the Amateur world we say: "One language one world." Even a non-English speaking person can hold a meaningful QSO (contact) with an English-speaker. More lessons later on. Now going QRT (signing off) 73/88 Sangat, 9M2SS. By the way, Amateurs address each other by the first name no matter who it is. Once I had a contact with Jordan and the call sign was JY1. I said OM how come you have a three-letter call sign. Said he: "Oh, nothing really, I happen to be the King of Jordan." This was King Hussein, a very keen Amateur who also flew his Boeing 747 himself.