New launch date for UAE's Hope probe set for July 20

The mission has been postponed twice so far due to poor weather

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  The Hope probe was placed inside this payload fairing last week and was transferred to building where the rocket is kept. Courtesy: Shoma Watanbe

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  The launch pad is ready to receive the H-IIA rocket, which will deliver the Hope probe to space. It will take 30 to 40-minutes for the rocket to be transported to the launch pad. Courtesy: Yoshiaki Sakita

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  The payload fairing, which is holding the spacecraft, has been mounted on top of the rocket. The structure is meant to protect the probe from dynamic pressure and aerodynamic heating it experiences during its launch into an atmosphere. Courtesy: Shoma Watanbe

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  The probe was already fuelled with 800kgs of hydrogen for its seven-month-long journey to Mars. Courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission

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  The H-IIA rocket that will carry the Hope probe into space. Dubai Twitter account

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  All launch viewing events in Tanegashima have been suspended as part of the Covid-19 safety measures. Signs have been up in all of popular spots, asking the public to keep a 3km distance from the Tanegashima Space Centre on launch day. Courtesy: Yoshiaki Sakita

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  The most popular launch viewing site is the Rocket Hill. It is a five-minute drive from the main building of the Tangashima Space Centre and offers a clear view of the launch. It remains closed to the public. The National

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  The free bus tour and exhibition at the Tanegashima Space Centre has also been suspended in efforts to contain the Covid-19 spread. Signs were placed outside of the centre, alerting the public. Courtesy: Yoshiaki Sakita

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  Engineers at the launch site in Tanegashima island, Japan. Courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission

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  The completed Hope spacecraft. It will study the lower and upper atmosphere of Mars. Courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission

A new launch date for the UAE’s mission to Mars has been set for July 20, officials have announced.

Lift-off from Japan’s Tanegashima Island, 1,000 kilometres to the south west of Tokyo, will take place at 1.58am UAE time.

The launch of the Hope probe has already been delayed twice due to poor weather and it is possible further delays could occur.

The Emirates-built craft aims to study the climate of the Red Planet and is due to arrive in February 2021, in time for the country’s 50th anniversary.

"The updated launch date and time for H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 42 is July 20, 2020 at 6:58:14 (Japan Standard Time),” said a spokesman for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the launch provider.

“There are possibilities for further delay affected by the latest weather forecast."

The Hope probe will begin the initial stages of its 500-million-kilometre journey on board the H-IIA rocket.

After leaving Earth’s orbit, the 1.3 tonne craft will be released, travelling an estimated 200 days before it reaches Mars.

The probe's launch was first scheduled for July 15 but was delayed for 48-hours. The July 17 date also postponed.

The team has a relatively narrow window to begin the mission. After August 3, scientists will have to wait until 2022 until Mars and Earth are suitably aligned again.

Over the past few weeks, Tanegashima Island has been battered by heavy rain and strong winds - conditions that could potentially damage both the rocket and spacecraft.

Launch criteria of H-IIA rocket:

* Peak wind speed should not exceed 20.9 metres per second
* Rain should be less than 8mm per hour
* No cumulonimbus clouds in flight trajectory
* No atmospheric discharge in the flight trajectory
* No lightning within 10km of the launch site
* No lightning observed within 20km of flight path