Arabian Business, Wednesday, May 20, 2020 | Ramadan 27, 1441
UAE to launch first Arab probe to Mars in July
Emirates:
After sending its first astronaut to space last year, the United Arab
Emirates is to launch a probe to Mars in July, Emirates Mars Mission announced.
The unmanned probe, named Hope, will be "the first interplanetary exploration
undertaken by an Arab nation", it said.
Emirates Mars Mission said the probe would be launched on July 15, at 2051 GMT,
from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre, using a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
platform.
It is set to make a 495-million-kilometre (307-million-mile) journey to reach
and orbit the Red Planet.
Last September, Hazza al-Mansouri made history as the first Emirati in space.
The announcement follows the probe’s successful transfer from the UAE to Japan,
which took over 83 hours by land, air and sea.
Since arriving at the platform, the Hope Probe has begun preparations for
launch. The process, will take more than 50 days in total, entails filling the
fuel talk with approximately 700 kilograms of hydrogen fuel and ensuring there
are no leaks.
Additionally, communications and control devices will be tested before the probe
is moved to the launch pad and installed on the rocket that will carry it to
space.
“The challenges overcome by the Hope Probe team amidst the global pandemic
confirm the UAE mission’s commitment to achieve the impossible,” said Sarah bint
Youssef Al-Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences and Emirates Mars
mission deputy project manager.
“It is a mentality that has now been embedded within the current and future
generations,” she added. “This mission embodies the nation’s aspirations, sends
a positive message to the world and demonstrates the importance of carrying on
unabated despite barriers and challenges.”
The Hope Probe is anticipated to enter Mars’ orbit in February 2021, coinciding
with the UAE’S golden jubilee celebrations to mark the country’s union in 1971.