The Hope probe illustrates the United Arab Emiratess drive to become a major global space player
Today we announce the exact date of the arrival to Mars, tweeted Sheikh Mohammed, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, on November 8.
The ambitious Emirati leader was talking about the Hope probe, the first Arab interplanetary mission to Mars, now well on track to reach the Red Planets orbit on February 9, 2021 at 7.42pm (UAE time).
Click here
The fact that the UAE will be one of the very few nations to reach Marss orbit will probably come as a surprise to many. Indeed, despite its historical contributions to science (starting with algebra, trigonometry, and astronomy), the modern Middle East is not the part of the world most associated with scientific breakthroughs, let alone space exploration.
Yet, in barely six years, the small, oil-rich Gulf country has quietly put itself on the space exploration map, harnessing close collaborations with universities and space agencies around the world.
Historical passion for space
Although the UAE was founded less than 50 years ago, it quickly put its impressive financial resources to good use, developing massive infrastructure projects, diversifying its economy, and investing in groundbreaking technologies that allowed it to soon become one of the worlds innovation hubs.
Space, and Mars exploration in particular, plays a key in this innovation-centric strategy, but it also has a deeply-rooted emotional value for Emiratis. Early on, it fascinated the countrys beloved Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who met with astronauts from several Apollo missions in the 1970s and cherished the fragment of moon rock that American president Nixon offered him in 1973.
But if its no wonder, really, that this commitment to space carried on over the years, it actually started to materialize in 2006, when the UAE government initiated knowledge transfer programs via the newly-established Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST).
Thrusters on
EIAST, now the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, developed a three-step approach intended to give the UAE the full capabilities, knowledge, and facilities it needed to develop advanced satellite missions by Emirati scientists and engineers on its own soil.
In less than ten years, it launched three ever more sophisticated Earth observationsatellites, the latest of which, dubbed KhalifaSat after the UAE President, left Earth in 2018 and was the first fully Emirati-designed, built, and tested spacecraft. Equipped with a state-of-the-art camera that captures and beams detailed imagery of the Earth, the remote sensingobservationsatellite should help tackle a range of global issues, from climate change and disaster relief to urban planning.
Meanwhile, the UAE Space Agency, founded in 2014 to develop the countrys very own space program, established a $27 million Space Research Centre that serves as an incubator for space research, development, and innovation. Most importantly, it also signed a flurry of cooperation agreements with, among others, theFrench Centre National d'tudes Spatiales, theUK Space Agency, and NASA.
These agreements are what allowed one of the countrys most symbolic achievements to materialize: sending a UAE national to space. In 2019, Hazzaa Al Mansoori made history by becoming the first Emirati to leave Earth a feat achieved by only two other Arab nationals, Prince Sultan Bin Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud from Saudi Arabia and Muhammed Faris from Syria, in the 1980s.
The then 35-year-old former pilot was chosen from the thousands of candidates who had answered Sheikh Mohammeds Twitter call for young Emiratis to join the UAE Astronaut Program in 2017. A whopping 4,000 people, including one third of women, had applied. Al Mansoori joined the International Space Station (ISS) on a short eight-day mission during which, among other things, he conducted experiments created by UAE school students.
Only getting started
Then, on June 20, 2020, the Hope probe launched from Japans Tanegashima Space Centre. Since, it has covered more than half of its seven-month, 480-million km journey to Mars. There, it will spend a Martian year (almost two Earth years) building the first holistic study of the Martian climate and trying to identify the reasons why the planets atmosphere erodes. This data will be shared freely with scientific and academic organizations around the world.
The fact that Hopes entry in Marss orbit will coincide with the countrys golden jubilee next year holds significant symbolic value for a country set on driving global innovation and scientific progress.
After all, the UAEs brand promise is Impossible is Possible and the Emirate has made significant investments to make these dreams come true: by end of 2017, it had poured more than $6 billion in its space sector and announced last September that more funds would be added, with an eye on moon exploration and the first fully Arab mission to space by 2024.
However, nothing illustrates better the UAEs space ambitions than its plan to establish the first self-sustaining habitable settlement on Mars by 2117. The country will even start researching space agriculture and how to grow climate-resistant palm trees on Mars in particular at the soon-to-be-established, $135 million Mars Science City. The center, covering 176,000 sqm in the desert outside of Dubai, will be fully dedicated to studying Mars colonization; architects of Bjarke Ingels Group have already designed an intriguing prototype.
See here
Clearly, no one can accuse the UAE of lacking vision, but a 2017 Sheikh Mohammed tweet summarizes the countrys posture perfectly: Mars 2117 is a seed we are sowing today to reap the fruit of new generations led by a passion for science and advancing human knowledge.
Read the original here:
First Arab space probe set to reach Mars orbit on February 2021 - HeraldScotland
- The Future of Mars colonization - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Richard Branson wants to colonize Mars [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Giller Prize nominee Alix Ohlin on writing, and reading [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2012]
- Mars manned mission- Mars Direct plan for Mars colonization (Mirrored) - Video [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2012]
- AJ Interviews Sean Calhoun! - Video [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2012]
- Table Talk: Buffalo Wings, Mars Colonization, and Dubstep! - Video [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2013]
- Mars colonization - Video [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2013]
- Mars Colonization Habitation Module #1 - Video [Last Updated On: April 13th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 13th, 2013]
- Chinese Volunteers Register for Mars Colonization Project - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2013]
- IGN News - Mars Colonization Wants You! - Video [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2013] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2013]
- Tekkit com GWi7 mars colonization #1 - Video [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2013] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2013]
- Secrets Of The Eisenhower Presidency - From Alien Contact To Mars Colonization - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2013] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2013]
- Private Mars Lander Launching in 2018 Will Build on NASA Legacy [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Mars Colonization Mission Will Happen Live on Reality TV ... [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- The Economic Viability of Mars Colonization [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Mars trilogy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- The Case for Colonizing Mars, by Robert Zubrin [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Red Colony - Colonizing and Terraforming Mars [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- NASA Quest: Possibility of colonizing Mars [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- Why Colonize Mars? - Red Colony [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- Colonizing the Planet Mars - Buzzle [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2013]
- 1,058 called up for tests before one-way trip to Mars [Last Updated On: January 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 3rd, 2014]
- More than 1,000 chosen for one-way Mars reality-TV mission [Last Updated On: January 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 3rd, 2014]
- Mars mission hopefuls whittled down to 1,058, representing 140 countries [Last Updated On: January 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 3rd, 2014]
- Tampa man one step closer to Mars? [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2014]
- Volunteers For Mars Colonization Wanted: Apply Today [VIDEO] [Last Updated On: January 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 16th, 2014]
- St. Louisans hope to make mission to Mars [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2014]
- NC State student makes the cut for chance to go to Mars [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 21st, 2014]
- Minn. Man Finalist In Mars Colonization Plan [Last Updated On: January 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 23rd, 2014]
- The Dead Planet [Page 3.14] [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2014]
- Human body not ready for life in space [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2014]
- Let's Play Kerbal Space Program - Career Day16 - Mars colonization - Ep25 - NOELonPC - Video [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2014]
- Mars Colony-Scale Rockets 'Could Be Ready In 10 Years ... [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2014]
- MARS COLONY: Chapter One and Two | MARS EXPEDITION [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2014]
- Mars One: Va Beach woman makes first round of cuts for ... [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2014]
- Calgary artist behind illustrations of would-be Mars One habitats [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2014]
- Planetarium Inspires New Cosmonauts [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2014]
- Leading Texan Democratic Senate Candidate Compares Obama to Hitler [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2014]
- Mars Exploration - Video [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2014]
- Packing Of Mars - Video [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2014]
- Kelowna scientist joins NASA funded simulated mission to Mars on Hawaiian mountain [Last Updated On: February 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 27th, 2014]
- What, Exactly, Is Kicking Off Everywhere, Whether in Venezuela, the Ukraine, or Thailand? [Last Updated On: March 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 3rd, 2014]
- How Humans Will Evolve on Multigenerational Space Exploration Missions [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2014]
- Kwame Nkrumah: The one and only founding father of Ghana [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2014]
- Finally! A Trash Collector For Space Junk! [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2014]
- SpaceX prepares to take the biggest step towards affordable space travel: Soft landing the Falcon 9 rocket [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2014]
- Thinkfactory Media Shopping Mars Exploration Reality Series [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2014]
- Colonizing Mars: Just How Far Away Are We? - Space News ... [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2014]
- One Minute on Mars - Video [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2014]
- Mars Colonies | Strategy Games | Play Free Games Online at ... [Last Updated On: March 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 25th, 2014]
- Mars One building simulated colony to vet potential colonists [Last Updated On: March 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 27th, 2014]
- Planet Mars Colonizing - Video [Last Updated On: March 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 27th, 2014]
- NASA Astronaut on 'Gravity', Mars Colonization & Sex in Space | Interview with Dr. Leroy Chiao - Video [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2014]
- The Human Heart May Not Be Able to Handle the Trip to Mars [Last Updated On: March 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 31st, 2014]
- Worth the Wait - Extra! - Episode 2 - Video [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2014]
- An Indie Look - Sol 0 - Video [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2014]
- SpaceHabs: One man's architectural vision for colonizing Mars [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2014]
- NASAs new Martian braking system paving way to easier human colonization [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- SpaceX Postpones Launch to Space Station Until Friday [Last Updated On: April 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2014]
- SpaceX postpones launch [Last Updated On: April 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2014]
- Clash mars PH launch of internationally coordinated protests vs Obama Asia trip [Last Updated On: April 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 23rd, 2014]
- Purdue student closer to a trip to Mars [Last Updated On: April 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 23rd, 2014]
- How Sensitive Are Plants To Gravity? [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- ISS Studies Show Bacteria From Earth Could Colonize Mars [Last Updated On: May 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 5th, 2014]
- NASA May Put Greenhouse on Mars in 2021 [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2014]
- 54 Canadians still in the running for one-way trip to Mars [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2014]
- NASA hopes to put greenhouse on Mars [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2014]
- NASA Aims To Establish Greenhouse On Mars By 2021; Curiosity Mars Rover Drilled Slab Of Martian Sandstone [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2014]
- Plant Life on Mars? NASA May Send Up Greenhouse in 2021 [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2014]
- A greenhouse on Mars? Scientists propose plant experiment for next rover. [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2014]
- Private Mars One Colony Project: 705 Astronaut Candidates Pass Latest Cut [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2014]
- Mars Offers Humanity A Do-Over [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2014]
- Colonization of Mars - Space Colonization Wiki [Last Updated On: May 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 12th, 2014]
- Nova Scotia woman prepared for final frontier [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2014]
- Girlfriend or Red Planet? 'Mars One' hopefuls on hard choice - Video [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2014]
- Mars Colonization By: Alexis & Anna - Video [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2014]
- Scientist uncovers red planet's climate history in unique meteorite [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2014]
- Red Planet's Climate History uncovered in Unique Meteorite [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2014]
- Scientist Uncovers Mars' Climate History In Unique Meteorite [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2014]
- If You Had $1 Million [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2014]