UAE's Hope probe captures striking image of Mars' surface

Crystal clear image of Red Planet's volcanic region is released by mission chiefs

A striking image of the surface of Mars captured by the UAE's Hope Probe. Courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission

The UAE's Hope probe has captured a stunning image of Mars from more than 1,300 kilometres above the surface of the Red Planet.

The striking shot puts into sharp focus the cutting-edge capabilities of the spacecraft, which started orbiting Mars on February 9.

The picture, taken on March 15 but released by the mission team on Sunday, shows the Elysium Planitia volcanic region of Mars.

It was taken at a resolution of 145m/pixel, enabling the probe to beam back a crystal clear image to Earth.

The Hope Probe aims to provide vital insights into the Red Planet during its remarkable odyssey in space.

Hope is best described as a weather or climate satellite.

• 

  The first image of Mars as taken by the UAE's Hope probe, which arrived at the planet on February 9.

• 

  This image taken by the Hope probe's ultraviolet spectrometer (one of its three scientific instruments) shows sunlight reflecting off the extended cloud of atomic hydrogen gas that surrounds the planet Mars. The sunlight is visible only as a dark disk hidden inside the fog of gas. The Emirates Mars Mission team said that no other mission have made such kind of recordings before.

• 

  The UAE's Hope probe captured a high-resolution photo of Mars.

• 

  The Hope probe has shared new images from its journey in the orbit of Mars.

• 

  This image was taken by the infrared spectrometer, another instrument on the Hope probe, from an altitude of about 15,000 kilometres. The image shows the surface temperature (left), centred on the Tharsis region of Mars. Dawn can be seen towards the right side. The low surface temperatures observed are due to the dusty nature of the Martian surface. An elevated nighttime atmospheric temperature at 25 km altitude (right) is also observed over the Tharsis region.

• 

  These images were captured by the eXploration imager, a high-resolution camera on the Hope probe. The red channel clearly shows the dark and light features of the Martian surface, while the water ice clouds stand out in the ultraviolet channel.

• 

  Hope probe sent back an image of the Cerberus Fossae, an area on the planet known for 'Marsquakes'.

• 

  Surface and atmospheric temperature readings collected by the UAE's Hope probe.

• 

  Discrete aurora on Mars captured by UAE's Hope probe

• 

  Discrete aurora on Mars captured by UAE's Hope probe

It will study how energy moves through the atmosphere throughout the day and throughout the seasons of its 687-day year.

The spacecraft will examine why gases essential to supporting life are escaping from the planet’s atmosphere, as well as weather dynamics.

It will use its three instruments — an infrared spectrometer, exploration imager and ultraviolet spectrometer, to capture data.

The exploration imager will take photos of the planet. It will use specific filters to restrict wavelengths of light and capture images that can help scientists learn about things such as ice in the atmosphere, small water ice particles, ozone and dust storms.

The infrared spectrometer will build images of the planet at different infrared wavelengths, almost like highly-advanced heat vision goggles for Mars.

In June, spectacular images of the discrete aurora in Mars’ night side atmosphere were released.;

The findings, captured by Hope’s ultraviolet spectrometer instrument, will help scientists understand the interactions between solar radiation, Mars’ magnetic fields and the atmosphere.

Hope will remain in orbit until it degrades or is burnt up in the atmosphere.

Mission control will receive regular telemetry from Hope throughout its mission.