Manoug manougian biography

Manoug Manougian (April 29, 1935 – 2024) was an Armenian scientist, professor, and considered the father of the Lebanese space program.
Haigazian University mourns the passing of esteemed scientist and visionary former faculty member, Dr. MANOUG MANOUGIAN (Jerusalem, 1935 – Tampa, 2024).
Manoug Manougian is an Armenian scientist, professor, and considered the father of the Lebanese space program.

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Dr. Manoug Manougian: The passing of a pioneer. A lasting legacy!

May, 07

Press Release

Haigazian University mourns the passing of esteemed scientist and visionary former faculty member, Dr. MANOUG MANOUGIAN (Jerusalem, 1935 – Tampa, 2024). Dr. Manougian’s legacy is entwined with modern Lebanese history, particularly through his leadership as the initiator and founder of the “Lebanese Rocket Society”, originally established as the “Haigazian College Rocket Society”.

In the early 1960s, a group of inspired Haigazian students, under Dr. Manougian’s able guidance, attained the remarkable accomplishment of launching the first rockets in the Middle East, known as THE CEDAR ROCKETS. The endeavors came to an end in 1966.

Dr. Manougian subsequently contributed his expertise to the University of South Florida for many decades, excelling in various academic and research roles, notably in STEM education, Aeronautics, Rocketry, also Armenian Studies.

His dedication and scientific contributions were celebrated in Beirut when Haigazian University

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Lebanon’s forgotten space programme

By now the Haigazian College Rocket Society had become a source of national pride. Manougian was invited to a reception held by President Chehab to be told that the Ministry of Education would provide limited funding for 1962 and 1963. It was renamed the Lebanese Rocket Society and the national emblem was adopted for its Cedar rocket programme.

Lebanon had joined the space race - albeit running in the slow lane.

"We were launching three-stage rockets," says Manougian. "They were no longer toys and could go way beyond the borders. We could reach the thermosphere.

"One time I received a call from the president's office asking us to make sure we weren't getting too close to Cyprus," says Manougian. "So we moved slightly south which was a concern because then we were getting near Israel."

The Cedar IV launched in 1963 was so successful that it was commemorated on a stamp. It reached a height of 90 miles (145 km), putting it close to the altitude of satellites in low-earth orbit.

But unbeknown to Man

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Lebanese space program

The Lebanese space program was not initially an official government-sponsored effort. Rather, it revolved around the Lebanese Rocket Society which emerged from the Haigazian College Rocket Society, and was founded by Manoug Manougian in 1960. The original society gained fame in Lebanon after a series of successful launches of Cedar rockets and in 1962 President Fouad Chehab announced limited governmental funding for the renamed Lebanese Rocket Society which was also contacted by the Lebanese military to develop weapons.

Lebanese Rocket Society

"Lebanese Rocket Society" redirects here. For the film, see The Lebanese Rocket Society (film).

The Lebanese Rocket Society which was led by Manoug Manougian consisted of a small group of students from the Haigazian University. The society developed into the wider Lebanese space program and it produced the first rockets of the Arab World, which were capable of suborbital flight.^{[citation needed]}

In November 1960, a group of Haigazian College students got together under the guidance of