National Point of Contact

Lebanon

Rémi Kahwaji

[Email]

SGAC Lebanon

From 1960 to 1966, Lebanon started its space activities with a group of young, motivated scientists building and testing rockets in Haigazian College (today’s Haigazian University), forming the “Lebanese Rocket Society”. Following their initial success, the programme was supported by the state of Lebanon and the experiments were conducted with the supervision of the Lebanese Army for security purposes.

Although Lebanon has not officially been an active member in international space development due to the devastating war that left it with more pressing issues since the 1970’s, the Lebanese diaspora across the globe has had numerous contributions in the space field. The contribution of Lebanon to the space field is notable, when taking into account that it is one of the smallest countries on Earth. Here are only a few notable Lebanese figures in the space field:

• Dr. Charles Elachi, Head of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Edgar Choueiri, noted researcher in the field of plasma propulsion
• George Helou, Director of the NASA Herschel Science Center
• American-Lebanese Astronaut Christa McAuliffe, NASA astronaut and space shuttle Challenger victim, who was slated to become the first teacher in space

Young Space Activities Overview in Lebanon

Around 4000 years ago, the Phoenicians, the native inhabitants of modern day Lebanon, were the first people to use the North Star to guide their exploration of the oceans and seas. They were the first sailors to cross the Cape of Good Hope and make a turn around the African continent.

Astronomy has long been a popular activity in Lebanon due to the weather that allows clear skies.

Specifically, the mountains offer great observation sites, with the added advantage of having no light pollution.

Recent events:

• ">Science days, an annual event funded by the embassy of Switzerland in Lebanon: The video shows the 2009 edition. Since then, there have been the 2010 and 2011 editions. It is in French, Lebanese and Arabic only and does not show space related research specifically.  However, in the piece, all space research and space activities in Lebanon are presented. The languages of the presentations depend on the auditor's preference.  English, French, and Lebanese are used accordingly.
• Occasionally, observation events are organized within astronomy clubs. Follow the links for these clubs in the paragraph below.

Interesting Web Links for the Young Generation in Lebanon

Astronomy clubs for amateurs

The following are astronomy groups that are open to welcome new people in their activities.
http://sites.google.com/site/lebaneseastronomygroup/
http://astrolebanon.weebly.com/
Specifically, this website regroups all Lebanese astronomy groups: http://www.astronomyclubs.com/country/Lebanon

University courses

Notre-Dame University (NDU) offers a wide range of courses in Astronomy and Astrophysics, within the faculty of science.

The physics department at American University of Beirut (AUB) offers courses in astrophysics as well as opportunities for graduate and post-graduate research in astrophysics (Physics of Stars, Synthesis of Elements in Stars, Radiation Transport, Solar System Formation, Stability and Chaos, Stellar Dynamics)
http://www.ndu.edu.lb/newsandevents/current/ndu_usj/photos.htm

Saint Joseph University (USJ) and Notre-Dame University (NDU) inaugurated in November 2010 a joint masters degree in Astrophysics. This degree is special because it is the first joint degree between two universities in Lebanon, it is the first joint degree between two universities that follow a different educational system (American and European), and it is the first astrophysics degree offered in Lebanon.

Optional introductory astronomy courses are also offered at the Lebanese University, Beirut Arab University, and Haigazian University (Armenian University in Beirut).  Haigazian University is also where the Lebanese rocket society formed in the 1960’s:  http://io9.com/Lebanese-rocket-society/

Lebanese astrophysicists

• Jamal Bittar, PhD, currently principal of the Tripoli Evangelical School and part-time instructor at USJ, NDU and the Faculty of Sciences III of the LU in Tripoli (North-Lebanon)
• Mounib El-Eid, PhD, Professor at AUB
• Roger Hajjar, PhD, Assistant Professor at NDU
• Bassem Sabra, PhD, Assistant Professor at NDU
• Jihad Touma, PhD, Associate Professor at AUB

Observatories and equipment

The first observatory to be ever built in the Middle East was in Lebanon, precisely at AUB in 1874. It was called the Lee Observatory. However, it was closed in 1979 due to political turmoil.

Today, USJ, NDU and BAU have acquired equipment which is used for teaching and research.

This equipment includes:

• BAU's observatory equipped with a 16 inch MEADE LX-200 SMT, Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope on an alt-azimuthal mount with an SBIG STV
• NDU has purchased a telescope and science instruments:
  • A 14-in MEADE LX-200 GPS telescope
  • An SBIG ST-2000 XM CCD Camera
  • An SBIG CFW8 filter wheel with UBVRI research grade filters, and an Hα filter with a 4-Å
• FWHM A LHIRES III with a 2400 lines/mm reflection grating
• USJ has a set of equipment identical to NDU's

The CNRS (Centre National de Recherche Scientifique) Remote sensing center:

• Gathering climate data to monitor drought
• Using satellite images to monitor snowfall dynamics on the Lebanese mountains
• Improving monitoring capacities for integrated environmental and coastal ecosystem management
• Cartography of forests by spectrometry (measurements of radiation using satellites)
• Building a digital elevation model for Lebanon
• Studying geomorphology and soil quality parameters
• Building a space atlas of Lebanon
• Monitoring landslides using GPS imaging
• Monitoring mass movements in Lebanon using radar interferometry
• Drawing land use/land cover map for Lebanon