Dr. Farouk el-Baz

For Dr. Farouk el-Baz, the moon is the limit. An outstanding Egyptian geologist whose work with NASA at the Apollo Space Program won him worldwide recognition. Additionally, his academic research based mainly on field visits and interpreting satellite images of the deserts of the world led to the uncovering of major sand-buried rivers and streams in Africa and Asia.

He is also known for his ambitious plan known as the ‘Egypt Development Axis’ which he envisioned for expanding the country’s inhabited areas into the desert further away from the crammed Nile Valley.

El-Baz was born on January 2nd, 1938 in Zagazig in the Nile Delta. He got his Bachelor Degree in Geology from the Faculty of Sciences at Ain Shams University in Cairo. Later he travelled to the United States to study for his Masters and PhD degrees, which he received from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1964.

From the Earth to the Moon

In 1967, Dr. el-Baz joined the United States Space Agency (NASA) to work for the Apollo Project as Supervisor of Lunar Science Planning. For six years, he helped in planning the scientific exploration of the moon which included the selection of eleven landing sites for the Apollo missions.

He was also in charge of training astronauts to make articulate observations during their lunar journeys. Command Module Pilot, Alfred Worden who orbited the moon in Apollo 15 was quoted to say,’’ After the King’s (Farouk’s nickname) training, I feel like I’ve been here before.” And because of his remarkable abilities to simplify scientific jargon, el-Baz was usually responsible for briefing the media on lunar missions.

From the Moon to the Deserts of the Earth

After the Apollo Space Program ended in 1972, Dr. el-Baz got involved in studying the origin and evolution of deserts. He conducted visits to all the major deserts and collected significant field data. His research journey, stretching for more than 25 years, explained the roots of arid lands and how they developed as a result of climatic changes, which is currently a major source for scientists around the world.

Dr. El Baz was also a pioneer in interpreting radar and satellite images of deserts using creative techniques to choose sites for further ground investigation. His understanding of these images led to the allocation of ground water usually found under depressions in the dry landscape. He began by using these methods in the Western Desert of Egypt, where he did not only discover water, but also excitingly found similarities with Mars terrain. It is his strong conviction that reaching Mars is the next Apollo project for the new generations of humans.

He then conducted his research in other countries of the Arabian Gulf, China and India. One of his important journeys was a six-week trip to the deserts of northwestern China. It took place after the normalization of political relationships between the United States and China in 1979 and was documented by the National Geographic and the Explorers Journal.

In 1986, el-Baz was appointed as the Director of the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston University. His basic contribution was the promotion of the use of space technology in the areas of archaeology, geography and geology. The center has since then been considered a leading institution in the application of remote sensing technology in different regions of the world. NASA chose it as a "Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing” in 1997.