Farouk El-Baz Papers, 1964-2018

Summary

Farouk El-Baz (1938- ) was born in Zagazig, Egypt. He received a B.S. in Chemistry and Geology in 1958 from Ain Shams University, Cairo. In 1960 he came to the United States, where he earned an M.S. in geology at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1961 and a Ph.D. in geology at the University of Missouri in 1964. After teaching for a short period, he worked as an exploration geologist for the Pan American-United Arab Republic Oil Company, 1966-1967. In 1967, El-Baz joined the staff of the Lunar Exploration Department of Bellcomm, Inc., and Bell Telephone Laboratories, and in 1969, became supervisor of lunar science planning and lunar science operations. In this position, he worked directly with the United States space program on lunar data analysis, landing site selection, lunar exploration planning, and orbital science crew training. In 1969, he was named a member of the Apollo Program Science Support Team. At Bellcomm, El-Baz began pioneering work in remote sensing in which a variety of scientific means are used to examine the surface of Earth or the moon from space. This work led him into the use of space photography to study Earth's deserts. In 1973, El-Baz joined the staff of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, where he established the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, which he directed until 1982. At the same time, he served as science advisor to President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, 1978-1981, and was Principle Investigator of the Earth Observations and Photography Experiment on the Apollo Soyuz Test Project, the first joint American-Soviet space mission of July 1975. In 1982, El-Baz became Vice President for International Development at Itek Optical Systems in Lexington, Massachusetts, where he oversaw the application of data from the Space Shuttle's Large Format Camera. The photography of this advanced system assisted greatly in his program of desert study from space. In 1986, he accepted the position of Director of the Boston University Center for Remote Sensing to promote the use of space technology in the fields of archaeology, geography and geology. During the Gulf War in 1991, El-Baz studied the effects of environmental disturbances on desert terrain. In addition to his work on remote sensing, El-Baz is also known for his participation in the International Astronomical Union's Task Group for Lunar Nomenclature, which was responsible for naming the geographic features of the moon's surface. El-Baz has been a citizen of the United States since 1970. This accession consists of El-Baz's personal papers documenting his professional and research activities at the Boston University Center for Remote Sensing, Itek Optical Systems, the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the National Air and Space Museum, and Bellcomm, Inc., in regard to deserts, remote sensing, lunar science, earth and planetary studies, oil exploration, and large format cameras. The papers also document El-Baz's participation in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Apollo Program and the Apollo Soyuz Test Project, as well as his involvement in field work, professional societies, conferences, committees, workshops, and video productions. Materials include incoming and outgoing correspondence; meeting agendas and minutes; reports; lectures; proposals; budget summaries; agreements; photographs, slides, and negatives; press clippings featuring or pertaining to El-Baz; scientific publications; invitations; videotapes; brochures; drawings; and supporting documentation. Some materials are in electronic format.

Subject

• El-Baz, Farouk
• Boston University Center for Remote Sensing
• Apollo Soyuz Test Project
• Project Apollo (U.S.)
• Smithsonian Institution
• Bellcomm, Inc
• Itek Corporation Itek Optical Systems Division
• United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Space Shuttle Program (U.S.)
• National Air and Space Museum (U.S.) Center for Earth and Planetary Studies

Notes

• Folder List in accession file.
• Electronic List in accession file.

Organization

Chronological and unarranged

Repository Loc.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520

Date

• 1964
• 1964-2018

Restrictions & Rights

Restricted for duration of Farouk El-Baz's lifetime without written permission from Donor. Transferring office; 2/27/1983 Agreement of Transfer; Contact reference staff for details

Topic

• Astrophysics
• Astrogeology
• Publications
• Congresses and conventions
• Geology
• Geophysics
• Committees
• Exploration
• Workshops
• Space sciences
• Prospecting
• Petroleum industry
• Remote sensing
• Professional associations
• Planets
• Lectures and lecturing
• Geologists
• Space photography
• Geophysicists
• Deserts
• Astronautics
• Contracts
• Lunar geography
• Planets--Geology
• Deserts--Research
• Petroleum--Prospecting

Place

Moon

Form/Genre

• Manuscripts
• Collection descriptions
• Clippings
• Brochures
• Digital versatile discs
• Electronic records
• Drawings
• Color photographs
• Black-and-white photographs
• Color transparencies
• Color negatives
• Black-and-white negatives
• Videotapes

Local number

SIA Acc. 23-167

Physical description

60.5 cu. ft. (60 record storage boxes) (1 document box)

Full Record

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