UAE leaders review pre-flight preparations of Mars Hope Probe

The UAE leaders reviewed the Hope probe’s pre-flight preparations days before its lift-off to Mars from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center.

Through a video meeting held with the Emirati launch team in Japan and 21 engineers from the UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) stationed in Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of MBRSC, were briefed on the range of technical tasks overseen by the space mission’s team.

We discussed pre-flight preparations with the Mars mission team at the launch site in Japan & the control station in Dubai. We are days away from the UAE Hope probe’s highly-anticipated launch to Mars that will inspire the young generation to make the impossible, possible. pic.twitter.com/XCG1ZvaVl6

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 18, 2020

The UAE leaders reviewed the final technical and logistical checks of the Hope probe, which will provide the first global picture of the Martian atmosphere, official news agency WAM reported.

I followed the preparations for the Hope Probe with my brother, Mohammed bin Rashid. A distinct historic chapter, and an embodiment of Sheikh Zayed’s vision.The UAE led by Sheikh Khalifa is about to embark on its greatest achievement yet, by our exemplary national cadres. pic.twitter.com/CszWW3OBWo

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) July 18, 2020

The mission’s team in Japan has completed the final testing and technical checks to prepare the Hope Probe following multiple delays in its launch caused by unstable weather conditions on site.

Read: Update: Emirates Mars Mission’s Hope Probe to now launch between July 20-22

The Hope probe will now lift-off on July 20, 2020, at 1.58am UAE local time.

The @UAESpaceAgency and @MBRSpaceCentre have announced updated launch date & time for UAE Mars Mission on July 20th,2020 at 01:58 am UAE local time. Any further delay,caused by weather conditions at the launch site in Japan’s Tanegashima Island,will be communicated in due course. pic.twitter.com/YrHeW51Ylk

— Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 17, 2020

The team at the ground station in MBRSC in Al Khawaneej is set to monitor the Hope probe’s journey to Mars from the launch to the day it enters the red planet’s orbit.

In the first 30 days, the team at the control room will take shifts to control the probe and record its first transmission. The control room will receive data once the probe is released from the rocket and the two solar panels will be deployed to charge the spacecraft’s on-board batteries.

The Hope probe’s liftoff to Mars is the culmination of a six-year journey of 200 Emirati engineers and researchers coming together to build the Arab world’s first spacecraft.

The Emirates Mars Mission also helped develop 200 new science technologies and build 66 parts of the probe in the UAE.

The Mars Hope probe will examine the interaction between the upper and lower layers of the Martian atmosphere and causes of the red planet’s surface corrosion, as well as study why Mars is losing its upper atmosphere.

Studying the links between today’s Martian weather and its ancient climate will offer insights into the past and future of Earth and the potential of life on Mars and other distant planets.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “In 1976, the late Sheikh Zayed met NASA experts because space was his ambition. Today, you are making his dream come true.”

“The young capacities and engineers who have learned and reached to this stage today is what the whole project is about.”

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed that “today marks a milestone in the history of UAE and the Arab nation because this unprecedented achievement is for all the Arabs.”

He added: “The fact that this achievement was crafted by Emirati hands certainly makes it a historic day. It brings great honor to me and the people of UAE – citizens and residents.”

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “We look forward to celebrating the first transmission from the Hope probe together when it begins its journey to the Red Planet. The Mars data gathered by the probe will be a scientific discovery dedicated for the benefit of humanity.”

He noted: “This achievement is from the UAE’s Mars mission team to the rest of the Arab world. It’s an invitation from the UAE to Arab youth and scientists to join us for new scientific achievements. We have entered the space era and more missions await us. We need all the innovative Arab minds on board.”