Space Science and the Arab World: Astronauts, Observatories and Nationalism in the Middle East

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Joerg Matthias Determann (Virginia Commonwealth University, Qatar)

Space Science and the Arab World

Astronauts, Observatories and Nationalism in the Middle East

Joerg Matthias Determann (Virginia Commonwealth University, Qatar)

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English

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
25 July 2019

Middle Eastern history; Islamic studies; Nationalism; Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods; Space science

When Sultan bin Salman left Earth on the shuttle Discovery in 1985, he became the first Arab, first Muslim and first member of a royal family in space. Twenty-five years later, the discovery of a planet 500 light years away by the Qatar Exoplanet Survey - subsequently named `Qatar-1b' - was evidence of the cutting-edge space science projects taking place across the Middle East.

This book identifies the individuals, institutions and national ideologies that enabled Arab astronomers and researchers to gain support for space exploration when Middle East governments lacked interest. Jorg Matthias Determann shows that the conquest of space became associated with national prestige, security, economic growth and the idea of an `Arab renaissance' more generally. Equally important to this success were international collaborations: to benefit from American and Soviet expertise and technology, Arab scientists and officials had to commit to global governance of space and the common interests of humanity.

Challenging the view that the golden age of Arabic science and cosmopolitanism was situated in the medieval period, Determann tells the story of the new discoveries and scientific collaborations taking place from the 19th century to the present day. An innovative contribution to Middle East studies and history of science, the book also appeals to increased business, media and political interest in the Arab space industry.

By: Joerg Matthias Determann (Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 138mm,
Weight: 322g
ISBN: 9781838600150
ISBN 10: 1838600159
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 25 July 2019
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

LIST OF FIGURES 1. ARAB WORLD SCIENCE 2. NATIONALISM AND COSMOPOLITANISM States and stars Space Arabism Modern Islamic astronomy Crossing the cosmos 3. EAST COAST AND NEAR EAST COLLEGES Collegiate connections Eclipse expeditions Researching astronomy and its Arab history 4. STARS OF SCIENCE Hot spots Geology of the Moon Developing deserts Koftagate 5. SPACE PIONEERS Artificial moons 'The frog and prince flight' One planet Cosmonauts' cosmopolitanism 6. THE ARABS' FINAL FRONTIER Hope Global networks Epilogue: Space heritage and the Arab world ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Style ABREVIATIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY Interviews Primary sources Secondary sources

Joerg Matthias Determann is Assistant Professor of History at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. He is the author of Researching Biology and Evolution in the Gulf States and Historiography in Saudi Arabia (both I.B.Tauris). He has been a Postdoctoral Fellow at Zentrum Moderner Orient and Freie Universitat Berlin, and holds a PhD from SOAS, University of London.