I knew they'd be "dancing in the streets" because of the death of the Israeli astronaut, but then again, how many Mohammedan astronauts are there? The Israelis have also gained a martyr.
The one Arab who's been up was a Saudi prince who happened to be an Royal Saudi Air Force pilot, iirc. He didn't go up on a lark; iirc, he was actually a competent Mission Specialist.
He lived. The Israeli died. Lt. Col. Ilan Ramon was Israel's first astronaut. As such, he is a martyr to his nation.
Colonel Ramon died tragically, with great violence. One would hope he died quickly, and with no pain. As President Bush remarked, one would also pray that he, along with his six comrades, are finally home. As General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson remarked at the close of his life: "Let us cross the river and rest under the shade of the trees..."
Be Seeing You,
Chris