Tuesday, Feb 09, 2016

Dubai: The UAE’s proposed historic mission to Mars is on track for its Hope probe to enter the Red Planet’s orbit in 2021, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE, officials said on Tuesday.

Top officials of Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre assembled at the World Government Summit told reporters that the seven-month mission is not just about deep space, it’s also about reaching out to UAE youth to inspire them to take on careers in science.

Omran Sharaf, Head of Mission with Emirates Mars Mission, said “we are on schedule”.

Sharaf said the team of Emirati scientists and engineers is working toward several deadlines such as having a workable Hope operational by the end of 2019 and ready for its launch in July or August 2020.

When the Hope probe is catapulted through the atmosphere into deep space, it will leave earth at a speed of 40,000km/h.

In a new book published by Dubai Executive Council in December 2015, Mission to Mars — issued at the press conference — His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, gives an inspirational foreword noting much lies in the ambitious leap into space by the country.

When the Hope probe is inserted into Mars’ orbit, it will mark the first-ever Arab mission to another planet in history.

“Our ancestors looked at the night sky and its planets as they sailed through the seas and oceans, journeys led both by trade and the urge to explore. The planets and stars guided them to their destinations. Out ancestors looked to the stars to learn about seasons and order of the months,” write Shaikh Mohammad in his foreword.

With the Hope probe, Shaikh Mohammad said: “We will contribute to a new dimension to our understanding of Mars. Because our dreams are great, and our ambitions begin in the skies, once again we look at the stars to build our glories.”

Suhail Al Dafri, Head of Space Segment, told reporters that after “after seven months, we will go into Mars orbit intrusion”.

The probe is expected to enter orbit some time between January and March 2021.

The probe will travel at 126,000km/h on its journey and when it reaches the planet, will stay in a 22,000km to 44,000km orbit.

At home, it is hoped that the mission will also stimulate young minds who follow the major space project over coming years in the lead up to launch, said Ebrahim Hamza, Head of Outreach.

“One of the objectives of this mission is to inspire youth,” said Hazma, who has been working with educators to instil a sense of wonder in students about space in the last six months through a series of workshops.

“With a very small team, we were able to engage about 10,000 students in the last six months,” Hamza said.

by Derek Baldwin Chief Reporter

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