Malaysia’s National Space Agency is holding a conference to consider Muslim astronauts pray in space as the country prepares to send its first citizen into orbit.
Three of the four astronaut candidates selected so far are Muslims. Two will eventually be trained and sent into space by Russia.
Performing ablutions for Muslim prayers with water rationing in space and preparing food according to Islamic standards will be among issues discussed.
The astronaut will also visit the International Space Station, which circles the earth 16 times in 24 hours, so another thorny question is how to pray five times a day as required by Islam. Muslims also have to turn towards Mecca to pray and working out which direction that will be while hovering above the earth might be challenging.
Related: Prayer rug that indicates the direction it should be turned, and some London jail toilets face away from Mecca.
Via Off Center Space Travel.