There are a Signs

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N00zOfjfjv92BvnjETI-beoAJWaUJfuh/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PSree5z84MdmGnjBnd7hJKGbJbLgFDBz?usp=sharing

Background

The project can be considered as a case study for my ongoing PhD research: Cultural Influences on Systems Engineering (SE) / Systems Engineering from Islamic Perspective [1]. I discovered during my literature review that the recent SE standards (e.g. ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288) are highly influenced by the US culture and the historical Western thinking, which moved from Theology --> Renaissance --> Secular-Humanity --> Mechanical Philosophy --> Modernity --> Post-Modernity. However, China tailored their own SE to fit their history and policies. The Western SE will not work in other cultures. So I am trying in my thesis to tailor the SE practice to fit Saudi culture, which is Islamic influenced.

Taking this research, I could discuss superheros from the same perspective.

Superheros is Good for Motivating People to Think, But not in All Cultures

The question is how to consider superheros from Islamic perspective, and how to influence love of space for Saudi culture

If we want to consider the superheros culture, it have a Western, and mainly US roots. China doesn't have historical superheros (in Superman style). However, they have historical heroes and tales [2].

Islamic Motivation to Think about Universe is Different

So, In Islamic culture, the effect of Quran is far more powerful than this. The Creator asked people to think about universe, and to see his Mighty and Supreme Powers almost every where in Quran, as this example[3].

Taking Part in SuperpowEARTH Challenge

We want to take only part of the SuperpowerEarth objectives, which were:

so if the Earth were to have a more extreme ability— one could say a “superpower”— what could it be?

Objectives

Your challenge is to (1) Personify one of the Earth’s abilities into a superhero figure. To personify means to “represent (a quality or concept) by a figure in human form,” or to “represent or embody a quality or concept in a physical form.” Draw, sketch, or electronically create a superhero you think fits right in at NASA. (2) Now that you have a figure to capture the astounding powers of the Earth, think of an extra superpower that would help the planet and the environment.

So we are considering only the underlined parts, and not necessarily a physical superhero, to fit our culture, to show people for the powers of earth (which comes from Allah), and to motivate humans to help the planet and the environment.

NASA Effect in the Decline of Religious Belief in USA

Barry Vacker discussed this topic in a LA Times article [4]. He showed how the non-believers increased from 2% before moon landing, until reaching around 26% in 2018. Among those non-believers, only 5% are atheist, others are still void, he wrote

"Yet, something will fill that void, the need for belief in a big narrative. Will Star Wars and Superhero movies be enough? I wounder how many buy into astrology and the Ancient Alien narrative.".

He concluded his article by saying

The real philosophical challenge is for art and philosophy to develop an accessible cultural narrative that gives a sense of meaning, purpose, and a hopeful tomorrow- in an awe-inspiring cosmos, a universe in which humanity is not significant, not central, and not part of a Grand Plan. As the Hubble and Webb telescopes show, we're tiny, but brainy, and that is our starting point.

Will, Islamic perspective of universe is the solution of that.

Observing Creator isn't New for NASA

in many NASA spaceflights, the religiosity believers astronauts examine their practice freely. The Wikipedia article religion is space discussed that. Also the "overview effect" have been examined by many astronauts.

The overview effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from outer space

It is understood that NASA as a public US organization, it have a requirement to work without religion influence. However, the above topics are being discussed.

This could be resolved by making the project for other space agencies, e.g. privet agencies even in US, agencies in Islamic countries, or even trying to find how to tackle it inside NASA itself.

Actually Islam isn't a religion by the same definition of other religions. It is the nature tendency of human to worship his Creator. The objective of Islam is (1) Justice (2) Search for Truth.

Balanced Islamic- Scientific Research

Islamic Scientific research having a very careful consideration. It need very experienced SMEs from both scientific domain, and Islamic domain. The scientific SMEs would insure that any provided theory in the research is academically accepted (e.g. peer reviewed). Islamic SMEs would insure that any projection is complying with Islamic requirements (e.g. accepted in Quran, Sunnah, Companions and Scholars sayings) with all needed Authentication, which is widely known by Muslims scholars, and which made pioneer Muslim scholars to introduce the applied research methods to the world (e.g. Ibn Alhaitham).

Saying that, the actual body of knowledge is full of pitfalls in wrong interpretations. Because of that, we need careful consideration.

The Project, What exactly does it do?

The project is an Islamic-Scientific research initiative, for considering earth and space exploration from Islamic perspective.

With this firm philosophical basement, the research can proceed to make tangible products, examples include:

• Methodology for Systems Engineering Tailoring from Islamic Perspective (The PhD Research of the Author)
• Tailored presentations for enhancing the awareness towards earth
• Carton movies for kids
• Enhancement for exploration of earth, sky and space

How does it Work?

It will work by making collaborative Islamic- Scientific research. From groups from Islamic schools (e.g. Fiqh (jurisprudence(), and others from scientific schools (e.g. aerospace engineering). Those groups will follow systems engineering methods for their work. It will be considered as a product life-cycle. They will start by identifying stakeholders (e.g. space programs in Islamic countries, young students). They will then make requirements analysis. going in this until the disposal (end of their PLC).

What benefits does it have?

It will solve the strategic "purpose of life" question. It will provide a deference meaning for earth and space exploration. It will accelerate it to unseen levels. Because Allah asked us to think and explore his Powers. It is highly needed, not only for Islamic countries, but even for all the world.

What do you hope to achieve?

I dream for making this research initiative as an official thing in NASA and all Islamic countries and world space institutions.

What tools, coding languages, hardware, or software did you use to develop your project?

It is a collaborative project from different teams. Every team will use his own tools.

[1] https://youtu.be/Q8hu7emdaRQ

[2] https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-04-19/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-introduces-marvels-first-asian-superhero

[3] (Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of night and day, and the ships which run upon the sea with that which is of use to men, and the water which Allah sendeth down from the sky, thereby reviving the earth after its death, and dispersing all kinds of beasts therein, and (in) the ordinance of the winds, and the clouds obedient between heaven and earth: are signs (of Allah's Sovereignty) for people who have sense.) Quran [2-164]

[4] https://medium.com/explosion-of-awareness/the-decline-in-religious-belief-in-america-the-role-of-nasa-and-media-technologies-7e8ef3d0b919

NASA vision, mission

NASA Historical documentaries

NASA Systems Engineering Handbook.

NASA, NASA Sounding Rockets User Handbook. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA 23337: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 2015.

“NASA’s Space Launch System Technologies,” 2018. https://software.nasa.gov/featuredsoftware/sls (accessed Jul. 12, 2018).

“NASA Software Catalog 2017-2018.” 2018. [Online]. Available: https://software.nasa.gov/

Nasa public data

The available NASA data is not the most important for this research. It is the data which is not yet discovered!

Very good

I enjoyed working in the hakathon. Regularly in my research I have ample time to do my research and present to my supervisors. However, the small time here is really a challenge.

Quran & Sunnah

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_effect

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_space

https://medium.com/explosion-of-awareness/the-decline-in-religious-belief-in-america-the-role-of-nasa-and-media-technologies-7e8ef3d0b919

https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superhero

https://youtu.be/Q8hu7emdaRQ

الإعجاز العلمي إلى أين؟(Book)

Phd References

Y. L. Qian, “Investigating the Influence of Cultural Differences on Systems Engineering: A Case Study of the Manned Spaceflight Programs of the United States and China,” 2013.

W. von Braun, “Management in rocket research,” Business Horizons, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 41–48, 1962, doi: 10.1016/0007-6813(62)90012-5.

#Space #Philosophy #Islam #Power #SuperpowEarth

This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.