The Lebanese Rocket Society was born from Haigazian University's Rocket Society, which was founded in 1960 by Monoug Manougian. The Lebanese government didn't initially back the society until 1962 when the President at the time, Fouad Chehab decided to fund it following successful launches of 3 Cedar Rockets. Also known as Arz 1, 2, and 3, the Cedar Rockets were discontinued when Lebanon was pressured to stop producing rockets that resembled French army missiles. So, it should come as no surprise that the society was asked to develop weapons for the Lebanese military.
With only 750 Lebanese pounds, a number of failed lab tests, and the brains of six students and a Physics professor, they successfully popularized what we refer to today as the Lebanese Rocket Society. With additional funding from the president, they were able to advance the design and improve the fuel system throughout the academic year, allowing them to boost the distance launched from a mere one km to 20, a number that wasn't before seen at the time. The successes led to better equipment, a larger team, more impressive launches, and a rocket's commemoration on a stamp, a true symbol of a project that sparked pride in a country.
The Lebanese Rocket Society Film
In May 2013, The Lebanese Rocket Society was released as a film. Directed by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, the interesting Lebanese documentary takes viewers on a journey through the history of the society, how it started, and the issues they faced along the way in becoming the first group of people to launch rockets from the Arab world.
The film reminds us of what could have been, had the Lebanese Rocket Society not been pressured to seize all future launches. It's a stunning recollection of the power that a small group of people collaboratively sparked with the guidance of their professor.
The rockets were painted red and stamped with the iconic Lebanese Cedar, a symbol dear to the hearts of many that we can be proud of. 12 solid fuel rockets later, it will forever remain a compelling story of how a group of students led by their determined professor to teach them physics unconventionally pushed boundaries and made the impossible possible. The stamp is testament to the society's strength and the beautifully created documentary will forever tell the true story.
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