A United Arab Emirates spacecraft began its journey to Mars with a blast off in Japan on Monday in what is the Arab world’s first interplanetary mission.
The UAE team during the final checks before the launch of the Hope Probe, the first Arab interplanetary mission, at the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan. (Photo: Twitter/@HopeMarsMission)
A United Arab Emirates spacecraft began its journey to Mars with a blast off in Japan on Monday in what is the Arab world’s first interplanetary mission.
The launch of the spacecraft named Amal, or Hope, marks the start of the seven-month journey to the red planet.
We have lift-off. H2A, the rocket carrying the Hope Probe to space, has launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan.#HopeMarsMission pic.twitter.com/pRKZLOL7NT
— Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 19, 2020
The launch, initially planned for July 15, had been delayed for five days due to bad weather.
The UAE team during the final checks before the launch of the Hope Probe, the first Arab interplanetary mission, at the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan.#HopeMarsMission pic.twitter.com/aqIZmOS11C
— Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 19, 2020
The probe will study the upper atmosphere and monitor climate change while circling Mars for at least two years. The craft is expected to reach Mars in February 2021, the year the UAE celebrates 50 years since its formation.
