Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has come up with the world's first comprehensive guidebook for Muslims in space as its first astronaut prepares to go into orbit next week.

The book, Guidelines for Performing Islamic Rites at the International Space Station, teaches Muslim astronauts how to perform ablutions, determine the location of Mecca when praying, and how to fast in space, the Star newspaper reported on Saturday.

"We wanted to ensure our astronaut could fully concentrate on his mission, without having to worry about how he should perform his religious obligations in space," Abdullah Md Zin, a minister for religious affairs, was quoted as saying.

The 18-page guidebook will be translated into English, Russian, Arabic and possibly more languages for future Muslim astronauts, he said.

Shaikh Muszaphar Shukor, an orthopaedic surgeon from Kuala Lumpur, is scheduled to leave Earth from Kazakhstan for Russia's International Space Station base on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Malaysian has said he will try to observe as much of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in orbit as possible.

Saudi Prince Sultan bin Salman, who was the first Muslim in space, had said that although he managed to pray and fast, he was not able to face towards Mecca and could not fully kneel on the ground.