Emirati engineers hope for successful Mars mission
Set to orbit the Red Planet later this year, the Hope Mars Mission aims to provide a better understanding about climate change, and increase human knowledge about the Martian atmosphere
After making history last year by sending the first Emirati astronaut, Hazaa Al Mansoori to the International Space Station (ISS), the United Arab Emirates Space programme is now fixing its focus on Mars with the Hope Mars Mission.
Omran Sharaf, Project Manager of Emirates Mars Mission and Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, spoke exclusively to Euronews, the first international media outlet to be allowed into the clean room, about the probe.
Set to orbit the Red Planet later this year, the Hope Mars Mission aims to provide a better understanding about climate change, and increase human knowledge about the Martian atmosphere.
Sarah Al Amiri explained, “What the Emirates Mars mission will provide is actual data throughout an entire year, everywhere in Mars. Now why is that important? Climate change is one of the reasons that Mars has transformed and understanding better the weather dynamics and the atmospheric changes on Mars gives us one piece of the puzzle on what happened to Mars, why has it got into the state that it’s at today; and that will even allow us to better understand climate change on Earth, and what usually naturally happens when it comes to climate change.”
“So eventually, when we send humans to Mars this will provide us with a better understanding on what will be faced,” she added.
The probe will study the climate daily and through seasonal cycles, and weather in the lower atmosphere such as dust storms, apart from the weather on Mars’s different geographic areas. It will attempt to answer the scientific questions about Mars’ drastic climate changes, and in turn provide us with more knowledge and information about the climate change happening on earth.
Omran Sharaf said, “The UAE government wanted to see a big shift in the ecosystem that we have when it comes to building a creative, competitive and innovative knowledge-based economy. And it looked at space as a means to do that and Emirates Mars mission is the catalyst for that big shift and change.
“It’s about addressing our national challenges when it comes to water, food and energy resources. And it’s about generating knowledge that will serve humanity,” he continued.
The Hope Mission is being carried out by a team of Emirati engineers in collaboration with foreign research institutions. Scheduled to reach Mars in July 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the United Arab Emirates’ formation, reaching Mars will mean big changes for the UAE back on Earth.
Commenting on the success of the mission, Al Amiri said, “That’s something unlike anything that we’ve ever dreamt or realised we can dream of working on. It’s the final countdown, we’re getting to launch in July. It’s the challenges of getting into Mars’ orbit and the exciting part is finding new findings, new science and new results.”
Last month, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, had said that the Hope Probe is a testament to the capabilities of the youth of the UAE.
“The project, which represents a historic achievement for the nation, also sends a message of hope to youth in the Arab world,” he added.
Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came as he was ceremonially handed the last component of the Hope Probe during an event held to mark its installation. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Chairman of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre also attended the event.
The last component installed carries the names and signatures of Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates and the Crown Princes. Inscribed on it is a phrase that reads, “The power of hope shortens the distance between the earth and the sky.”
Sheikh Mohammed was briefed by the Hope Probe team at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre headquarters about the final technical and logistical preparations and testing procedures ahead of the Hope Probe’s launch in July.