Islamic scholars produce guide to praying at 17,000mph

Islamic scholars produce guide to praying at 17,000mph
Ian MacKinnon, south-east Asia correspondent
Wednesday October 10, 2007
The average astronaut has plenty to keep him busy. But when the first Malaysian man in space blasts off today from Kazakhstan, the Muslim doctor will have whole new layer of concerns dictated by the Koran.
For instance, how will Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, 35, pray towards Mecca when orbiting the earth at 17,000mph? In the closing days of the Muslim month of Ramadan, how will he observe the fast between sunrise and sunset?
Luckily, Malaysia's Islamic scholars spent a whole year finding solutions to these and other ticklish problems as Mr Muszaphar prepared for his nine-day trip to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/space/article/0,,2188006,00.html