São Paulo – The United Arab Emirates launched this Monday (20) the first-ever Arab and Islamic probe to Mars – the Hope Probe. This is also the first Arab interplanetary probe. The countdown to takeoff was done in Arabic for the first time in history. The probe blasted off from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Its journey of almost 500 million kilometers should take seven months to complete, with the probe reaching Mars in 2021. The probe will collect data on the Red Planet’s atmosphere and send 1 TB worth of data back to Earth over the course of two years. The project started back in 2014. You can watch the launch at the end of this story.
UAE official news outlet WAM said that the launch makes young Arabs hopeful about changing their reality and shaping up a new future. The UAE is about to join the select group of nine countries that have explored Mars.
“The UAE has overcome an important challenge, given its lack of experience in these areas compared to the countries that preceded it, and it is now ready to reinforce its international presence in this field, through numerous initiatives and projects,” WAM reported.
The Hope Probe will enable the world to better grasp the fourth planet in the Solar System. According to WAM, the launch schedule was kept in place despite the Covid-19 crisis. The initial launch date was July 14.
Two hundred Emirati engineers were involved in the Mars mission, highlighting the opportunities provided by the country in space research and projects, WAM said.
The UAE are planning to convey its knowledge in the space industry to other Arab countries. An UAE-led project is looking to create an Arab alliance to that end, with the UAE Space Agency working to help other Arab countries with their plans for the space sector.
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Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum