Countdown begins for Hope

Our Correspondent 

After adverse weather conditions delayed its scheduled liftoff time twice, the UAE’s mission to Mars is set to launch on July 20, 2020, at 1.58am UAE time. This will be the first time the final countdown will be in Arabic.

The UAE leaders reviewed the Hope probe’s pre-flight preparations days before its historic launch to Mars from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center in the first ever Arab interplanetary mission. Through a video meeting on July 18, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC), were briefed on the range of technical tasks overseen by the space mission’s team.

The video meeting was held with the Emirati launch team in Japan and 21 engineers from the UAE Space Agency and MBRSC stationed at the mission control room in Dubai’s Al Khawaneej.

The UAE Space Agency is funding and supervising necessary details for implementation, while the MBRSC is responsible for the execution and supervision of all stages of the design, development, and the launch of the Hope probe.

From a national strategic vision, the space mission aims to build a space industry in the UAE and advance the country’s capabilities in space science and engineering. It seeks to inspire UAE’s youth to pursue advanced technologies and space science to be part of the country’s growing pool of space engineers, researchers and scientists. The space mission is part of the country’s pursuit of economic diversification and a wider vision to invest in future knowledge-based economies. The mission will cement the UAE’s status as the region’s most advanced nation in space sciences and build global space partnerships to benefit humanity and overcome key challenges facing the world.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Police patrols have been decked up with the ”Hope Probe” logo in a strong expression of pride and happiness of the UAE people for the launch of the first interplanetary mission by an Arab-Muslim country. UAE leaders, royals, ministries and government departments had earlier changed their social media profile photos to the logo.