UAE spacecraft 'Hope' blasts off in its first ever mission to Mars

United Arab Emirates is all set to become an interplanetary country as it successfully launched  Arab world's first mission to Mars. On early Monday morning 'Al Amal,' or 'Hope' probe took off from Tanegashima Centre in, Japan, at 06.58 local time (21.58 GMT) with an assist from a Mitsubishi rocket booster. mission to red planet will be a seven-month journey, where it will orbit and send back data about Martian atmosphere.

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Launch delayed two times

Arab world’s first mission to Mars was initially due to launch on 14 July. However, it was delayed twice due to b wear. According to minister for vanced sciences Sarah Amiri, Emirates Mars Mission has cost $200m (£155.8m). probe aims to provide a complete picture of Martian atmosphere for first time, studying daily and seasonal changes.

Emiratis and Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre (MBRSC) worked with US educational institutions to develop and build Hope Probe. After an hour of launch, probe deployed solar panels to power its communication and or systems. MBRSC centre in Dubai will n oversee craft during its 494 million km journey at an aver speed of 121,000 kmph.

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In year 2014, UAE first anunced plans for mission and launched a National Programme in 2017 to develop local expertise. country accommodates a population of 9.4 million, out of which most people are foreign workers, which lacks scientific and industrial base of big -faring nations. UAE has an ambitious plan for a Mars settlement by 2117. In September 2019 Hazza al-Mansouri became first Emirati in to fly to International Station.

At moment re are eight active missions exploring Mars; some orbit planet and some have landed on its surface. China and United States plan to send ar by this year respectively.

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