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

1126810980
Space Science and the Arab World: Astronauts, Observatories and Nationalism in the Middle East
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.

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

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

by Jörg Matthias Determann
Space Science and the Arab World: Astronauts, Observatories and Nationalism in the Middle East

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

by Jörg Matthias Determann

Paperback

$46.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 1-2 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

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.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781838600150
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 07/25/2019
Series: Library of Modern Middle East Studies
Pages: 272
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.57(d)

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).

Table of Contents

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

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews