São Paulo – The United Arab Emirates’ Hope Probe entered Mars’ orbit on Tuesday (9), 7:42 pm, Dubai time. The feat was made public by the Dubai Media Office, which hailed the probe as the first from an Arab nation, and the fifth ever, to reach the Red Planet. Pictured above, UAE government officials celebrate the Hope Probe’s entry into the orbit of Mars.
The achievement marks the Arab world’s entry into the global space race. Two more missions – from China and the United States – are expected to reach Mars this month.
In entering Mars’ orbit, the probe overcame the most critical part of its mission, lasting 27 minutes and including maneuvers to reduce speed from 121,000 km/h to 18,000 km/h. During this stage, contact with the probe was kept to a minimum, the Dubai Media Office reported.
The UAE spent six years’ worth of technical and logistical efforts in completing the project. After going into orbit, the probe will broadcast images of the Earth as seen from Mars. This is expected to take place in a week’s time.
An ensuing scientific mission is slated to run from April 2021 to April 2023, extendable for another two years. The Probe will relay the first-ever full image of the atmosphere of Mars. The data will be shared freely with more than 200 research centers.
The probe’s arrival, after traveling 493 million km through space, marks the 50th anniversary of the UAE. According to the official website of the UAE government, president Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated citizens and residents as well as people across the region on the success of the first Arab interplanetary mission.
“The Hope Probe’s historic arrival at Mars is the greatest celebration of the 50th anniversary of our country. It sets the tone for the beginning of the next 50-year phase with boundless ambitions and dreams. Our next accomplishments will be even bigger and greater,” said Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president and prime minister and ruler of Dubai, on occasion of the mission’s success.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum