ABU DHABI 10 February 2021: President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received messages of congratulations on the Hope Probe’s successful arrival to Mars, from kings, presidents, and heads of brotherly and friendly countries.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received similar messages on the occasion, said official news agency Wam.
Rulers congratulate UAE
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated UAE citizens and residents and people of the wider region for the success of the UAE’s Hope Probe arrival to Mars in the first-ever Arab interplanetary mission that marks the Arab world’s entry in the global race of space exploration.
Hailing the historic breakthrough, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan said, “This historic achievement would not have been possible without the persistence and determination to implement the idea that emerged at the end of 2013 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who followed it up closely until its success.”
He also praised the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in dedicating all kinds of support needed to make the dream come true. “Thanks to both leaders and the team of scientists and engineers behind the project for proving to the world that the UAE is capable of achieving the impossible.”
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed hailed the space project, which was the outcome of solid institutional collaboration and a bold vision that aimed to serve mankind and the international science community.
Hailing the success of the mission, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said: “The Hope probe’s historic arrival to Mars is the greatest celebration of the 50th anniversary of our country. It sets the beginning of the next 50 years with boundless ambitions and dreams.” He added, “Our next accomplishments will be even bigger and greater.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid noted that “Our biggest success is building national scientific expertise who will contribute to the international science community.”
He added, “we dedicate our Mars achievement to the people of the UAE and the rest of the Arab world. Our success proves that Arabs are capable of reviving the region’s legacy and status in the scientific sphere.”
“We mark our country’s 50th anniversary by our Mars stop, and invite Arab youth to join the UAE’s science movement that marched at high speed.”
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said: “the Hope Probe’s successful arrival to Mars is an Arab and Islamic achievement that was made possible by the relentless efforts of our youth. The mission marks our entry in the global race to space.” He added that “The probe’s arrival to the Red Planet celebrates our journey of 50 years in the best image that fits the UAE and captures its true story to the world.”
He noted that the “Emirates Mars Mission paves the way for the next 50 years of sustainable scientific development in the UAE.”
“The human capital is the true wealth of our nation. Investing in our people forms the main pillar of all our development strategies and policies.”
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed stressed that “the Emirati youth will be the ones leading our development for the next 50 years with their acquired knowledge and skills. The Emirates Mars Mission contributed to building highly-qualified Emirati capabilities equipped to make more accomplishments in the space sector.”
Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates extended congratulations to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, and the people of the UAE on the success of the Hope Probe reaching Mars orbit.
H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, confirmed, on the occasion of the success of the Hope Probe reaching Mars orbit, that the ambition of the United Arab Emirates has no limits, and its blessed endeavours in the service of humanity have been a constant concern since its establishment, as the UAE’s people engrave the name of the country in the history of space.
In a statement on this historic occasion, His Highness said that the ambition of the United Arab Emirates has no limits, and its blessed endeavours to serve humanity have been its primary concern since its union was established 50 years ago from today.
H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, said, “Today is an extraordinary day in the history of our nation, as well as the Arab and Islamic world, as the Hope Probe is set to reach Mars.”
“This achievement was due to the courage and patience of our leadership and people, to strengthen the position of the country in the field of space sciences and Martian discoveries, shaping a bright future in the field of space and scientific discoveries that will serve humanity,” he added.
He also said the Hope Probe project underscores the confidence of the country’s leadership in the Emirati youth, as it believes in their pivotal role in consolidating the process of national development. Since the establishment of the Emirates Mars Mission seven years ago, national working teams have accomplished distinguished achievements, due to Allah Almighty’s willing and their hard work, overcoming numerous challenges and obstacles.
H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, said the Hope Probe helped realise the dream of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to reach the outer space.
“Following on the footsteps of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the wise leadership worked very hard to build national capabilities and their effort paid off with the an all Emirati team overseeing planning, execution and management of the Mars Mission, translating the leadership’s vision into achievements,” he added.
H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, affirmed that the UAE has won the race to the space and ushered into the future of space exploration.
”We are confident of success because our nation’s loyal young men have planned and implemented the Emirates Mars Mission. We are setting an example of remarkable success for the generations to come,” H.H. said.
This spectacular success was a culmination of years of hard work, perseverance and perfect implementation,” he added.
The dream of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, top reach the Red Planet has become a reality today, he noted.
H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, described the Hope Probe’s successful arrival at Mars orbit as a historic achievement that puts the UAE among the world’s leaders in advanced space technology and scientific research.
“Thanks to the leadership’s unlimited support, the people of the UAE demonstrated that there is no impossible in their dictionary.”
‘We hope to join you at Mars soon,’ says NASA
Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator of NASA, congratulated the UAE and the Mars mission team on Hope Probe’s successful entry to the Red Planet’s orbit.
Zurbuchen wrote on his Twitter account, “Congratulations on your safe arrival to Mars’ orbit! Your bold endeavor to explore the Red Planet will inspire many others to reach for the stars. We hope to join you at Mars soon with @NASAPersevere.”
He also retweeted a post by NASA Perseverance Mars Rover’s account, which quoted Arabic verses from a poem for the Arab famous poet Al Mutanabbi and it’s English translation, which reads, “If you ventured in pursuit of glory, don’t be satisfied with less than the stars.”
Perseverance is a US Mars mission, expected to land on the Red Planet on 18th February.
Russia says ‘huge milestone’
Russia, the first country to land a spacecraft on Mars five decades ago, said Tuesday the UAE’s Hope Probe reaching the destination point itself is a huge milestone.
Roscosmos (the Russian Federal Space Agency) said, “Reaching the destination point itself is a huge milestone for a mission and we most heartily congratulate our Emirati colleagues with the successful accomplishment of this critical task.”
Roscosmos made these comments as the Hope Probe’s Mars orbit insertion success is expected to be determined Tuesday. That delicate phase will decide the success of the first Mars Mission from the Arab world.
“The Hope mission is already a huge success whatever its continuation shall be. It showed the whole world that an ambitious passion backed up by an able leadership can quickly catapult a young nation into a club of the heavy-weight players in one of the most advanced areas of mankind’s activities,” the Russian agency added.
“We wish our Emirati colleagues a successful accomplishment of this very important and daring mission,” the statement said.
Russia – former Soviet Union – was the first country to land a spacecraft on Mars in 1971 and 1973, which was followed by the US with its eight successful Mars landings between 1976 and 2018.
European Union in 1993 and India in 2014 joined this exclusive club of spacefarers that have successfully made it to Mars.
The UAE has become the fifth member of that elite club.
Egyptian President congratulates UAE
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi of Egypt congratulated the UAE leadership and people on the successful arrival Sunday evening of the Arab World’s first probe to Mars.
“I proudly followed the arrival of the “Hope Probe” to the Mars. The step is historical and pioneering for the UAE to enter the field of outer space exploration. The step constitutes the hope aimed to reinstate the glories and the discoveries by the Arab and Islamic nations in the realms of sciences, arts, and innovation,” the Egyptian president tweeted.
India’s praise
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which had successfully sent a spacecraft to Mars in 2014, has “a positive outlook” on the Hope Probe’s success, which “will expand the global team that can coordinate and jointly plan future missions to Mars.”
A senior scientist at ISRO told Emirates News Agency (WAM) on Tuesday, “It is an exciting opportunity as the UAE’s Hope mission approaches Mars for an orbit injection. The successful approach to Mars provides renewed confidence in the upcoming phases of the mission.”
R. Umamaheswaran, Distinguished Scientist and Scientific Secretary at ISRO, made these comments as the Hope Probe’s Mars orbit insertion success is expected to be determined Tuesday evening UAE time. That delicate phase will decide the success of the mission.
“We have a positive outlook on Hope and wish the very best for this maiden mission from UAE to Mars,” he said in an email interview from Bengaluru.
India was the first Asian country and the fourth globally to join the exclusive club that have reached Mars alongside the US, Russia and the European Space Agency.
With its indigenously made unmanned spacecraft, India became the first nation in the world to successfully reach Mars on its first attempt in 2014.
‘I wish that you conquer space!’ Pakistani minister
A Cabinet minister of Pakistan has wished the UAE “to conquer the space”.
“Today is a great day for every human; but particularly for every Muslim, the UAE has made the whole Muslim world proud. The Emirates Mars Mission will be the first of three to arrive at Mars,” Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, said in an exclusive video to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
“The mission is a contribution towards a knowledge-based economy in the UAE and Muslim Ummah. I wish you all the best. I wish that you conquer space!” he added.
Hope Probe successfully arrives to Mars after complex maneuver
The UAE made history on Tuesday evening, February 9, as the first Arab nation, and the fifth in the world, to reach Mars after the Hope Probe successfully entered the Red Planet’s orbit, at 7:42 pm.
The probe overcame the most critical part of its mission, the Mars Orbital Insertion (MOI) that involved reversing and firing its six Delta V thrusters to rapidly reduce its speed from 121,000 km/h to 18,000 km/h. During the 27-minute critical phase, the contact kept with the probe was kept to a minimum.
The Hope Probe is the first of three exploration missions to arrive to the Red Planet in February. China and the US are leading ambitious projects to Mars, scheduled to arrive on Feb. 10 and Feb. 18 respectively. Hope Probe’s arrival to Mars, after travelling 493 million kilometres in a seven-month journey in space, marks the UAE’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Now that it has entered the Martian orbit, the Probe will transition to the Science phase– transmitting its first image of Mars back to Earth within just one week.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, said: “The Hope probe’s historic space journey to Mars is a significant Arab and Emirati achievement.” He noted that “the Emirates Mars Mission drafts a new chapter in the UAE’s record of achievements in the space science sector and supports the efforts of our country to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy driven by advanced technologies.”
He concluded, “the UAE’s celebrations of the 50th anniversary has become associated with the arrival to Mars, which places a big responsibility on the next generation to make greater achievements in the next 50 years.”
Millions of Viewers
Beamed live around the world by international television stations, the Probe successfully entered the orbit of the second-smallest planet in the Solar System on February 9 at 7:42pm UAE time.
The moment was marked by a dazzling laser show on the façade of the Burj Khalifa reviewing the journey of the Hope Probe, the stages of the project, and the efforts of the Emirati scientists who participated in the realisation of the country’s space dream.
As hundreds of spectators watched the stunning display, the world’s media were joined by high-level government officials and the Emirati Hope Probe team for a special briefing on the mission’s progress.
During the event, Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, Chairperson of the UAE Space Agency and leader of the scientific team of the Emirates Mars Mission project, gave a detailed explanation in Arabic and English of all stages from ideation to launch and the seven-month journey to space.
Al Amiri’s briefing shed light on the Hope Probe’s journey and the UAE’s long-held dream of reaching space. A meeting was also held between the scientific team and several media professionals, offering in-depth detail on aspects of the project.
Attending media also received continuous updates from the Ground Control Station at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in Al Khawaneej as Omran Sharaf, Project Director of the Emirates Mars Mission, provided information about the Probe’s path in the final critical minutes before entering the capture orbit around Mars.
The core mission will involve capturing more than 1,000GB of new data over one Martian year (687 Earth days), which will be shared with 200 scientific and educational institutions around the world. The mission can be extended for another two years, to provide the first-ever complete picture of the Martian atmosphere.
Through closely studying the connection between current Martian weather and the climate of the Red Planet, scientists will gain deeper insights into the past and future of the Earth as well as the potential for human life on Mars and other planetary objects.
The defining moments
The most critical phase of the Hope Probe’s entry to the Red Planet’s orbit, the MOI, commenced at 7:30p.m. UAE timing.
Previously programmed by the team before the launch, the probe automatically fired its six Delta V thrusters to rapidly reduce its speed from 121,000 km/h to 18,000 km/h. The deceleration burn took 27 minutes until 7:57pm as the probe safely entered the capture orbit.
At 8:08 pm, the ground control station at Al Khawaneej received the first transmission from the Hope probe, signalling the success of the mission.
The probe’s entry to Mars’ orbit marks the end of four of the six stages of its space journey that started in July 20, 2020: launch, early operations, cruise and the Mars Orbit Insertion. The probe is currently entering the ‘transition to science’ phase, before it commences the ‘science’ phase to study the Martian atmosphere.
First Day in Mars
On its first day in Mars, the team restored communication with the probe to ensure its systems remained intact after the dangerous phase it had just passed. For the next 3-4 weeks, daily contact will be scheduled between the probe and the team back on Earth, enabling a quick turn-around of command sequence uploads and telemetry receipt. The probe will capture its first picture of Mars in the first week of its arrival.
Transition to Science phase
After a period of testing and validation, a series of maneuvers are performed to get the Hope Probe in the correct position to move into the Science Orbit.
The next stage in the Hope Probe’s journey is the transition from the Capture Orbit to an acceptable Science Orbit in preparation for its primary science operations. The rebooting of the probe’s systems can last for 45 days, while the radio signals will take from 11-22 minutes to travel from Hope to earth and back.
The Science phase
The last phase of the probe’s journey is set to begin in April 2020. The probe will officially enter the Science phase to complete the first-ever planet-wide, 24×7 picture of Mars’ atmospheric dynamics and weather daily, throughout all seasons for one full Martian year (687 earth days) until April 2023.
The probe, however, can be used for another two years for additional data collection.
The three science instruments installed on the probe will enable the collection of 1,000GB comprehensive new Martian data, which will be shared for free with over 200 research centers.
The insights and data we gain from understanding the Martian climate will add new dimensions to human knowledge about how atmospheres work, which will help scientists and researchers evaluate distant worlds for conditions that might support life.
Understanding the geographical and climate changes of Mars and the other planets will help us gain deeper insights to find solutions for key challenges facing mankind on earth.
A Global Picture
Once it reaches Mars’ orbit, the Hope probe will provide the first-ever complete picture of the Martian atmosphere, monitoring weather changes throughout the day during all seasons, which has not been done by any previous mission.
The mission will provide deeper insights on the climatic dynamics of the Red Planet through observing the weather phenomena in Mars such as the massive famous dust storms that have been known to engulf the Red Planet, as compared to the short and localized dust storms on earth. It will focus on better understanding the link between weather changes in Mars’ lower atmosphere, with the loss of hydrogen and oxygen from the upper layers of the atmosphere.
The probe, for the first time, will study the link between weather change and atmospheric loss, a process that may have caused the Red Planet’s surface corrosion and the loss of its upper atmosphere.
Exploring connections between today’s Martian weather and the ancient climate of the Red Planet will give deeper insights into the past and future of Earth and the potential of life on Mars and other distant planets.
