The Countdown for the UAE's Mars Mission
The UAE probe for Mars exploration has been successfully placed on the launch capsule and its metal structure has been secured to its base inside the capsule in preparation for its lift-off within the coming days from the Japanese Tanegashima base. Final revisions are now underway to fulfil this historic mission.
The last operation saw preparations made and precautions taken, among them covering the spacecraft with a thermal layer to protect it from the atmosphere of outer space and temperature changes, and final checks carried out of its functions, including the power, communication, navigation, propulsion and thermal systems. The UAE Mars mission team of Emirati cadres supervised the probe placement along with their Japanese colleagues.
The ongoing launch preparation process is in line with the plan and scheduled timetable set six years ago, in spite of the challenges resulting from the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
“The probe mission underlines that the Emirates Mars Exploration Project serves humanity in general and the scientific community in particular by making the information, to be collected through the research on the Red Planet after its arrival into the orbit, accessible to more than 200 scientific institutions and research centers,” said Minister of State for Advanced Sciences of the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri.
This reflects the scientific message of the United Arab Emirates, which is a positive sign for the region and the world as a whole, aiming at the continuation of work and overcoming the challenges in order to find proper solutions for ensuring the welfare and happiness of people, in turn reflecting the visions of the wise leadership of the United Arab Emirates, especially since the probe is anticipated to reach Mars in February 2021, coinciding with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations to mark the establishment of the United Arab Emirates.
BY H.E. ESSA ALNOAIMI - THE AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES IN GEORGIA