The United Arab Emirates launched its first mission to Mars on Monday, the first in the Arab world, as it strives to develop its scientific and technological capabilities and reduce its dependence on oil.
The Hope probe took off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center at 6:58 a.m.Japanese time on Monday (9:58 p.m. GMT on Sunday) for a seven-month trip to the red planet, where it will orbit and send data about the atmosphere.
Initially, the mission was due to launch on July 14, but was delayed due to bad weather.
Just over an hour after launch, the probe deployed solar panels to power its systems and established radio communication with the mission on earth.
There are currently eight active missions exploring Mars; some orbit the planet and others have landed on its surface. China and the United States plan to send another one this year.
The UAE first announced plans for the mission in 2014 and launched a National Space Program in 2017 to develop local experience[[[[Jon Gambrell / AP Photo]
The Emirates Mars Mission has cost $ 200 million, according to the Minister of Advanced Sciences, Sarah Amiri. Its objective is to provide a complete picture of the planet’s atmosphere for the first time, studying daily and seasonal changes.
The UAE first announced plans for the mission in 2014 and launched a National Space Program in 2017 to develop the local experience. Its population of 9.4 million people, most of whom are foreign workers, lacks the scientific and industrial base of large nations with space capacity.
He has an ambitious plan for a settlement on Mars by 2117.
Hazza al-Mansouri became the first Emirati in space last September when he flew to the International Space Station.
Emiratis and Dubai Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) worked with US educational institutions.or develop and build the Hope probe.
The MBRSC space center in Dubai will monitor the spacecraft during its 307 million mile (494 million km) journey at an average speed of 121,000 km / h.
SOURCE:
Reuters news agency
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