UAE leaders, government ministries and organisations have changed their social media profile photos in support of the country's mission to Mars.
Senior figures who now use a circular red logo on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram include Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior.
Other accounts using the #HopeProbe avatar include that of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, National Media Council, Dubai Media Office, Dubai Police, Ajman Police, Khalifa University, and Ministry of Education among others.
Upon a closer look, the new avatars are for the UAE's #HopeProbe scheduled for lift-off Wednesday, July 15. It is the Arab world's first mission to Mars and was built by more than 150 Emirati engineers, scientists and researchers, with the help of three American universities.
Some of the logos are in Arabic, while others include English. They circular, outlined by the UAE colours of the flag with the words "Hope Mars Mission 2020" and "Arabs to Mars" written inside with a red/maroon background signifying the Red Planet.
The mission will blast off from Japan and is intended to be the first probe to provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere when it reaches the planet's orbit in 2021. The aim is to help answer questions about the planet, with studies of its lower and upper atmosphere.
"It will give us a full understanding on how atmospheres evolve and how the weather systems impact atmospheric evolutions," said Sarah Al Ameri, president of the UAE Space Agency and deputy project manager of the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM).
"This is very important for scientists to better understand climate change on Earth and to find all of the leading causes of it."
The project has been in the works since 2014 and cost Dh735 million, from its conception through to its design, construction and launch.
"We were able to accomplish the Hope probe, from the idea to the launch, within just six years. Similar missions take at least 10 years," said Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs.
“The cost of the probe amounted to $200 million, which is considered among the lowest in the world compared to similar missions and projects – all thanks to the efforts of our engineers, research and scientific cadres, the sons and daughters of the Emirates who put their passion and faith in this project.”
Inside Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre:
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Technicians work at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai. MBRSC / AFP -
An employee works at the control room of the Mars Mission at MBRSC. AFP -
Employees work at the control room of the Mars Mission at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. AFP -
Engineers observe a KhalifaSat model at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. AFP -
An engineer walks toward a KhalifaSat model. AFP -
Scientists work at a laboratory in the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. AFP -
Engineers observe a KhalifaSat model. AFP -
Engineers walk the corridors of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. AFP -
The entrance of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP -
The entrance of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP
