The United Arab Emirates heads to Mars, claiming the title of the first Arab country to launch an interplanetary mission, which it designed and built in just six years and named hope.
The orbiter Hope Mars launched into Mars on a Japanese rocket on Sunday (July 19). Its name was carefully chosen to reflect the country’s objective for the mission, which focused on stimulating space exploration and science in the UAE like actually reaching the red planet. But just like the name of NASA’s Mars mission to launch this month, Hope’s name has taken on a new resonance in recent months as the world navigates the coronavirus pandemic, complicating preparations for launch for both Mars missions. However, both spaceships arrived at their rockets in time for the rare three-week launch window to the Red Planet.
“Be it Mars Perseverance Mission or the Mars Hope mission, we all believe this is critical for our nations to inspire the next generation, provide hope and demonstrate perseverance, “NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said during an online broadcast conducted prior to launch.
Related: UAE’s Hope mission to Mars in photos
“The naming of these two robots, if you like, I think is absolutely perfect,” said Bridenstine. “I certainly think what we are trying to do here is give people: people want hope, and this mission, I think, is a perfect example of that.”
the Hope Mission Compact Timeline, from idea to launch in just six years, sparked a comparison to a different NASA program from Ellen Stofan, director of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and planetary scientist, during the same event.
“It reminds me of another country 50 years ago, that in eight and a half years there was practically no space agency to sending people to the moon“Stofan said.” That spirit of Apollo is what I’ve really seen in the UAE, and they will get the same results that we got from Apollo: inspiring a generation to go out there and do the impossible. “
Related: The boldest Mars missions ever
The current UAE ambassador to the US, Yousef Al Otaiba, made a similar note in his comments after the successful spacecraft taken off to begin your journey to Mars.
“A young Emirati who is … looking for the first time, [an Arab-built] the spacecraft carrying a probe to Mars, they are going to grow up believing that anything is possible, or they are going to grow up believing that there really is hope, “said Al Otaiba.” I think it’s very, very important to see that, because we see so much conflict, tension and disagreement, and I’m not going to put my political hat back on, but everything is polarized. “
And for him, it’s vital to find ways to collaborate despite that tense environment, even to face the same situation that threatened to derail Hope’s launch.
“If we are going to focus on finding a cure for crown[virus], or the next pandemic, we will have to work together; if we are to find a solution to climate change, we will have to work together, “said Al Otaiba.” Frankly, some of these problems are beyond any country or institution to fix. People, especially young people, need to grow to understand the power of working together to accomplish greater things. “
Email Meghan Bartels at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
