By 
June 25th, 2020
Credit: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center
Joining the U.S. and China in reaching for the Red Planet is the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) – the first interplanetary exploration undertaken by an Arab nation.
EMM’s Mars Hope probe is launching on July 15 from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center.
Hope will reach and orbit the Red Planet in February 2021.
Credit: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center
Mars climate
The mission of Hope is to build the first full picture of Mars’ climate throughout the Martian year and will include the study of the Martian atmosphere, the relationship between the upper layer and lower layer.
As a result, for the first time, scientists based in over 200 universities globally will have access to a holistic view of the Martian atmosphere at different times of the day, through different seasons.
Credit: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
Partners
EMM and the Hope probe is a product of Emirati engineers working with partners (University of Colorado, Boulder, Arizona State University, University of California, Berkeley) to develop the UAE’s spacecraft design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
Mars Hope is a fully autonomous spacecraft, carrying three instruments to measure Mars’ atmosphere and weighing some 2,976 pounds (1,350 kilograms).
The scientific team for the mission is 90% female, and 100% Emirati – another first.
The Mars Hope Probe will reach Mars orbit in 2021, the 50th anniversary of The Emirates, which became an independent nation on 2nd December 1971.
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