UAE Mars probe picks up higher oxygen levels

Data from Hope spacecraft being shared with global research centres

The Emirates Mars Mission’s (EMM’s) unmanned Hope Probe in the Martian orbit has discovered higher than expected amounts of oxygen on the planet.

The announcement came yesterday in a tweet also showing spring season in the northern part of Mars, posted by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Hope Probe is studying Mars’ atmosphere is unprecedented detail using a variety of sensors and cameras.

The UAE yesterday began sharing the scientific data it has obtained so far on Mars with global research centres, Shaikh Mohammad said.

Unpredicted variations

“These observations, and our previously announced observations of Mars’ discrete aurora, are part of the first data release that went out on Oct 1. From now onwards, we will be releasing new data sets every three months without embargo and free for use to the community,” the Mars mission also said in a series of tweets.

Speaking about the discovery of greater than expected concentrations of oxygen in the Martian atmosphere, the tweets added: “The EMM team had expected to observe a relatively uniform emission from oxygen at 130.4 nm across the planet and yet here we are, faced with unpredicted variations of 50 per cent or more in the brightness [in the images showing the oxygen concentrations].”