HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, today (February 1) reviewed the final preparations of the Emirates Mars Mission team as the Hope probe is a few days away from arriving to Mars’ orbit in the first-ever Arab interplanetary mission.

 

During the meeting, Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chairperson of the UAE Space Agency, presented the last stages of the Hope probe’s journey, leading up to its expected arrival to the Red Planet’s orbit on February 9.

 

Hailing the mission, both leaders called upon the public in the UAE and across the region to celebrate the historic mission that represents the Arab world’s breakthrough in space exploration.

 

Sheikh Mohammed said: “We are 9 days away from making history with our arrival to Mars.” 

 

“The UAE has led the Arab world to new frontiers in deep space for the first time in history. Our space mission carries a message of hope and confidence in Arab youth,” he stated.

 

He stressed that the "probe had a 50% chance of successfully entering Mars’ orbit, but we have achieved 90% of our goals behind this historic project."

 

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the Emirates Mars Mission embodies the aspirations that distinguish your country and reflects our leading status in the Arab and Islamic world. "Through our journey to Mars, we will explore new horizons towards a better future," he stated.

 

The probe’s successful arrival to Mars will make the UAE the sixth nation in the world to reach the Red Planet after the US, Soviet Union, China, the European Space Agency and India, and the third to achieve the feat in the first attempt. 

 

Besides the UAE’s Hope probe, China and US are leading exploration missions set to reach the Red Planet this month.

 

“The UAE’s arrival to Mars was the dream of the late UAE founder Sheikh Zayed. Our investment in the human capital proved worthwhile as we see our youth capable of reaching the stars,” remarked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. 

 

"We are proud of our people and we look forward to making a historic contribution to serve humanity," he said at the meeting.

 

It was attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council and President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre;  Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; and Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, National Security Adviser.

 

The Hope probe’s complex maneuver on Feb. 9 will be the most critical part of the mission that will see the spacecraft rapidly reducing its speed from 121,000km/h to 18,000km/h to enter Mars’ orbit.

 

Upon arriving to Mars after travelling 493 million km in a seven-month journey since its launch on July 20, 2020 from Tanegashima Island in Japan, the probe will provide the first-ever complete picture of the Martian atmosphere.