The United Arab Emirates (UAE) first historic mission to Mars, the ‘Hope Probe', will reach the ‘Red Planet’ on February 9, 2021, the gulf country’s Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid announced on Thursday.
Sheikh Mohammed shared the image of Hope Probe on his official Twitter handle, saying that it “135 million kilometres away from Mars”.
An image from the UAE's Hope probe,135 million km away from Mars. The probe will reach the Red Planet on February 9, 2021. pic.twitter.com/ZTJteSEP4B
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) December 3, 2020
The UAE launched its first mission to Mars earlier in June as it strives to develop its scientific and technological capabilities and reduce its reliance on oil.
The Hope Probe blasted off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Centre for a seven-month journey to the red planet, where it will orbit and send back data about the atmosphere.
The first Arab mission to Mars was initially due to launch on July 14 but has been delayed twice due to bad weather.
The Emirates Mars Mission has cost $200 million, according to Minister for Advanced Sciences Sarah Amiri. It aims to provide a complete picture of the Martian 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 Programme in 2017 to develop local expertise. Its population of 9.4 million, most of whom are foreign workers, lacks the scientific and industrial base of the big space-faring nations.
(With additional input from Reuters).
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