European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 4, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 saturday january 4. 1986 saudi arabian payload Tepetl alter Sultan Salman Nta Xet in the Pilot t total during the Tapee Mission. Saudi Arabia s new Folk hero Prince Sultan the astronaut by Robert  associated press a 2b-year-old  of inca with taste Tor last air planes and american Slang has become a Lolk hero in saudi Arabi Short on contemporary idols Lor its youth. Last june Prince Sultan Ibn Salman bin Abdel Azle Nephew of King fahd joined a Crew of astronauts aboard lha . Space shuttle discovery. Becoming he first Arab pocketed into space. Since then the Young Prince who toured saudi Arabia recently with the fellow crewmen has been touted As a National hero. Six months after the discovery flight saudi youngsters still Hock to his Public appearances and schoolchildren compete in Art contests depleting his Mission. Newspapers television and radio not Only in saudi Arabia but in other islamic countries proudly Hail Sultan As the first Arab moslem  whose achievement shows there is More to saudi Arabia irian Oil Wells camels and endless wastes of Sand. There were a Tew complaints by some cynical perhaps More sophisticated saudis that All this hoopla was t deserved said one Westerner. But from the standpoint of the saudi masses particularly the Young it s had a great Impact to have a saudi hero the first moslem Arab  four saudi University professors in conversations at the Southern provincial capital Abha agreed thai Sultan s Mission had inspired their students to accomplish More in Lite than make Money. After Prince Sultan s Mission All the students wanted to become astronauts said one professor. It did t matter it they were studying English or business or science. They All said maybe t have a Chance Loo " on Westerner who knows the country Well said the Prince filled a need for modern heroes in a fast changing society whose traditional idols desert warriors and poets seem part of an increasingly Distant past. In the major developed countries you find heroes in All sorts o Fields he said. But not in this society. Except or a few football soccer players the saudis Don t have Many heroes in their recent  the accomplishment also underscored the vast changes which Oil wealth has brought in the Short Tina since Suitan s Grandfather. King Abdel Zatz Ibn baud United this desert land Early in the Century in a series of military campaigns often conducted on camels. As a Folk hero Prince Sultan a graduate of the University of Denver fits the saudi Ideal for his role Well. In Public appearances the Young Prince displays a quiet dignity that saudi customs demand. Ai More than six feet he stands taller than most saudis. In a staunchly religious society he freely tells interviewers that he sees no conflict Between science and his islamic Faith. During the discovery Mission. Sultan prayed live times a Day As his religion requires while helping launch a modern communications satellite to link Arab countries and photographing saudi territory for geological research. Aside from his personal qualities and family connection Sultan is a qualified Jet Pilot with More than 1.000 hours flying experience. Like space veterans of other countries Sultan complains that the Public acclaim in saudi Arabia has put More demand on his Lime than i Ever expected or  but i think i have to be always willing to oblige these demands because i think it s my responsibility to be always there when i m called  he said. Sultan said the discovery Mission had been important to saudi Arabia because of the Opportunity it gave saudi scientists to work with More experienced american colleagues in planning and carrying out experiments in space. A Large number of our own scientists had the Opportunity to go into these great organizations to work very closely Slih the people there he said in the future we Hope to be involved in much More expanded and elaborate experiments in space. I think saudi Arabia in the future will be seriously and genuinely interested in participating in future  . Navy Cape. John Brandenstein Sultan s commander on the Mission described the Prince As a very enthusiastic member of the Crew and a fast learner. 1 his enthusiasm made it easy to integral into the Crew Brandenstein said during a news conference at the end of the Crew s Lour his interest in Fly no was very  would the Prince be willing to Fly in the space shuttle  he replied. Ill Lake any Mission that comes along but t think i la have to stand in the Back of the line now and Wall my Chance for a few More  f