Tokyo: In a first, an Arab nation has launched its interplanetary mission to Mars, the ‘ Hope Probe’ from Japan on Monday, in a bid to reveal more about the atmosphere of the Red Planet.
Moments that make history… The Emirates Mars Mission team participates in the first Arabic countdown from Japan… The countdown that ushers a new era for Arab space exploration. #HopeMarsMission #HopeProbe pic.twitter.com/PaKk75e5F9
— Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 19, 2020
The Japanese rocket carrying the probe developed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan right on schedule at 6:58 am local time (2158 GMT Sunday).
A post in the Hope Mars Mission’s Twitter account reads: “The Hope Probe is all set to start its journey, while its destination, Mars, stares back at us in a clear night sky. This is history in the making.”
“Hope” is expected to enter Mars orbit by February 2021, marking the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE, an alliance of seven emirates.
About an hour after the launch, the Probe separated from the launch rocket. It will launch its solar panels and begin the seven-month journey towards the Red Planet using a propulsion system.
After the separation, Hope Probe will send its first signal from space to the operations room at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, MBRSC. The received data will be analysed by the technical team at the Centre.
” Two-way communication established. The ground segment has received and communicated the first signals with the Hope Probe,” tweeted Hope Mars Mission.
Two-way communication established. The ground segment has received and communicated the first signals with the Hope Probe. #HopeMarsMission
— Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 19, 2020
The Arab world’s first interplanetary mission is run by a team of 200 Emirati engineers. The achievements of the Emirates Mars Mission team, include development of 200 new designs and manufacturing of 66 pieces of the probe components in the UAE.
