Space Science and the Arab World: Astronauts, Observatories and Nationalism in the Middle East (Library of Modern Middle East Studies)

Jörg Matthias Determann

ISBN 10: 1838600159 / ISBN 13: 9781838600150

Published by I.B. Tauris, 2019

About this Item

Seller Inventory # V9781838600150

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Space Science and the Arab World: Astronauts, Observatories and Nationalism in the Middle East (Library of Modern Middle East Studies)
• Publisher: I.B. Tauris
• Publication Date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1838600159
• ISBN 13: 9781838600150
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

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.

About the Author

Jörg Matthias Determann is Professor of History at Virginia Commonwealth University, Qatar. He is the author of four books published by I.B. Tauris: Islam, Science Fiction and Extraterrestrial Life (2020); Space Science and the Arab World (2018); Researching Biology and Evolution in the Gulf States (2015); and Historiography in Saudi Arabia (2013).