Arab-American Heritage and History in the Astronomical field

The early pioneers of Astronomy 

The heritage and contributions of Arabic scholars and astronomers has long been witnessed by the stars. 

Of all the stars that have been documented and named in astronomy, two-thirds are of Arabic origin. As far as astronomy is concerned, much of its rich history is owed to the early Arab pioneers of the Islamic Golden Age. Dating from the 8th to the 13th century, the Islamic Golden Age ushered in advancements in observation, instruments, and mathematical models which laid the foundation for future astronomical discoveries and the modern-day astronomical field.

Highlighting the achievements of astronauts and other figures of Arab descent in astronomy challenges the traditionally eurocentric narrative of space exploration, while empowering young Arab-Americans to see themselves as part of that legacy and future. Figures such as Nora Al-Matrooshi, Dr. El Baz, and Jasmin Moghbeli serve as an example to young Arab-Americans through their diligence and contributions to the American space industry. 

Nora Al-Matrooshi

Named the first Arab astronaut at age 28, Nora al-Matrooshi who hails from the emirate of Sharjah, was announced as the UAE’s first female astronaut in April 2021. Al-Matrooshi dreamed of becoming an astronaut at a young age, when her arts and crafts class inspired her to create astronaut equipment for the classroom. “That day was the day I started wanting to be an astronaut when I grow up,” she recalled in an interview with Forbes.

Al-Matrooshi earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the United Arab Emirates University before embarking on her astronaut career. She also worked as a piping engineer at the National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC), contributing to high-profile projects. Al-Matrooshi is also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Her contributions to the American space sector continued when her rigorous training began at MBRSC and at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where she joined the 2021 Astronaut Candidate Class. Al-Matrooshi mastered critical skills for space exploration including spacewalking at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, robotics, ISS systems, and piloting the T-38 jet during her time there. At Fort Novosel, Alabama in the U.S., she received Earth geology and survival training.

In 2024, Al-Matrooshi graduated from NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Class, earning her astronaut pin and qualifying for future space missions. This made her the first Arab woman to graduate from NASA’s astronaut training programme, a beacon of inspiration for women across the Arab world. 

Dr. Farouk El Baz

When you think of America’s first steps on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission, the names that come to most minds are Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong. The moon landing however, could not have been possible without the work of Dr. Farouk El-Baz. 

Born in 1938 to Muslim Egyptian parents, Dr. El Baz was a key scientist who helped NASA plan and identify the location for Apollo 11’s historic Moon landing in 1969. He served as secretary of the Landing Site Selection Committee for the Apollo lunar landing missions, Principal Investigator of Visual Observations and Photography, and Chairman of the Astronaut Training Group from 1967-1972.

It was during this time that he played a key role in helping NASA decide on the ideal Moon landing site for the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 and served on the Apollo 15 rover mission in 1971. He was also responsible for the training of Apollo astronauts in the important skills of visual observation and space photography, in addition to instructing crew members on rock and lunar soil collection. 

His skills were attested to by Command Module Pilot Alfred Worden who said, "After the King's (Dr. El Baz’s nickname) training, I feel like I've been here before" while orbiting the moon during the Apollo 15 mission. His contributions to NASA were recognized in numerous ways including the naming of Asteroid 7371 El-Baz, discovered by American astronomers Eleanor Helin and Schelte Bus in his honor. He also received a fun personal cameo in the popular TV-series Star Trek: The Next Generation when a shuttle craft named El-Baz soared through. 

Jasmin Moghbeli

Born in Bad Nauheim, Germany in 1983, Jasmin Moghbelli considers Baldwin, New York her hometown. Moghbeli’s family fled Iran after the 1979 revolution and stayed for four years in Germany, where she was born, before coming to the United States. She remembers making brownies for her second-grade class to celebrate becoming an American citizen. 

Like most astronauts, she knew she wanted to work in space from an early age. In Moghbelli’s case, this realization came to in the sixth grade, where she wrote a book report about Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet cosmonaut who was also the first woman in space. 

She attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T) where she studied aeronautical engineering and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps in 2005. Moghbeli has since been deployed into war zones three times. She flew Cobras loaded with multi-barrel cannons and deadly hellfire missiles. In Afghanistan, she picked up the nickname “Jaws”, a nickname etched on the chopper she flew. Her achievements in the military earned her a spot as a member of NASA Astronaut Group 22

in June 2017, and her two-year training subsequently began.

In January of 2020, she graduated alongside 13 others in the NASA Astronaut Candidate Training Program, officially making her "eligible for spaceflight.” Her first flight in space was as commander of the SpaceX Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station in March 2022. 

Though she has never been to Iran, Moghbelli demonstrates immense pride in her heritage: “That’s part of what’s so great about America, right? You have all these people, from different backgrounds, and we share some of the same values as Americans generally, but then there is so much tradition and culture behind each one of our different backgrounds,” she said. 

A beacon of hope

Today, Arab Americans have roots in 22 countries located in the Middle East and North Africa. In addition to the many nationalities represented in the community, Arab Americans are also diverse in faith and race. The contributions of Arab-Americans in the past and present have been foundational to not just astronomy but art, literature, and mathematics as well. Figures like Jasmin Moghbeli, Dr. El Baz and more provide a beacon of hope and act as inspiration to young Arab-Americans chasing their dreams. Throughout April, and the rest of the year, we hope you will join us in recognizing the numerous contributions of this large and growing community.

Yours truly,

Fatima Ka

Writer, Writers Team