DUBAI: The UAE has received global praise for the “historic” launch of its Mars space probe.
The Hope probe blasted off early Monday from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, making the Emirates the first Arab and Islamic country to attempt planetary exploration.
President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed led the celebrations, saying the Emirates Mars Mission “constitutes a national and Arab achievement and an advanced Emirati push in the process of building global knowledge in space.”
The probe is one of three racing to the Red Planet, with Chinese and US rockets also taking advantage of the Earth and Mars being unusually close: a mere hop of 55 million kilometers. (AFP)
He said the Hope probe idea was developed within the UAE’s “national and research institutions and was designed and manufactured with the effective participation of a young national elite of bright minds — highly qualified and trained and sincere young Emiratis.”
The mission is a joint project between the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center and the UAE Space Agency, with the help of contributors and experts from leading universities.
The UAE will be the ninth country to explore the Red Planet, joining an exclusive club of nations.
In video: The historic moment when the Emirates Mars Mission team received the first signal from the Hope Probe. #HopeMarsMission pic.twitter.com/UXd20D1TEE
— Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 20, 2020
Prior to the launch, the United Nations said the UAE’s mission is a “contribution to the entire world” and the Emirates is becoming “a main player in the space arena.”
“The UAE is always looking forward to the future; it is our wonderful partner,” said Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
The Arab League secretary-general said the launch is a “unique event and a milestone in UAE and Arab achievements as it embodies a message of hope, ambition and motivation for all the peoples of the region to overcome challenges.”
“This achievement is an Emirati-Arab contribution to shaping and making a promising future for humanity, and a message to future generations that nothing is impossible.” Ahmed Aboul Gheit said.
NASA congratulated the UAE on the successful launch, describing the mission as a “culmination of tremendous hard work and dedication.”
“This mission is aptly named since it’s a symbol of inspiration for the UAE, the region, and the world,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said.
In Pics: Exciting moments during the historic launch of the Emirates Mars Mission from the team in Japan. #HopeMarsMission pic.twitter.com/jY1VqBYzEz
— Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 20, 2020
“We are in awe of the speed and commitment the UAE, through both the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center and the UAE Space Agency, has demonstrated in developing its first interplanetary spacecraft.”
The UAE plans to share all its data with the world, not just academics and scientists and the research findings will be updated regularly and made publicly available.
GCC Secretary General Nayef Al-Hajjraf also praised the UAE’s scientific achievements, expressing his pleasure at witnessing such a “unique event.”
He said “the Hope Probe comes to fulfill the hopes of millions of future generations.”
The probe will travel almost 500 million kilometers and is set to reach the orbit of Mars in February 2021, which would coincide with the 50th anniversary of the UAE’s establishment.
The ground segment at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, has received and communicated the first signals with the #HopeProbe. #HopeMarsMission pic.twitter.com/1iFgd5248J
— Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 20, 2020
The data from the mission will be publicly available.
The mission is also the first of three international missions to Mars this year, including NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover, China’s Tianwen-1, which will launch next month, and ExoMars, a collaboration between the European Space Agency and the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
