UAE's first space mission 'HOPE' to Mars was successfully blasted off from Japan on Monday. The 1.5-ton Mars orbiter that was launched at Tanegashima Space Center, south of Kyushu. marked the Arab world's first interplanetary mission.
The Emirates Mars Mission’s journey to the Red Planet will take seven months, with the vehicle arriving at its destination in time to celebrate the U.A.E.’s 50th birthday.
"We have launched the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 42 (H-IIA F42) carrying aboard the Emirates Mars Mission's (EMM) HOPE spacecraft," rocket manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said in a statement shortly after the launch.
The launch has been delayed twice due to bad weather, but on Monday liftoff appeared smooth and successful.
“The U.A.E. is now a member of the club and we will learn more and we will engage more and we’ll continue developing our space exploration program,” U.A.E. Space Agency chief Mohammed Al Ahbabi said.
“It sends a very strong message to the Arab youth that if the U.A.E. is able to reach Mars in less than 50 years, they could do much more,” Mars Mission Director Omran Sharaf told the AP.
The objective of the mission is to provide a comprehensive picture of the red planet and UAE's goal to prepare human settlement within the next 100 years.
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
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