UAE Mars Mission: Commemorative stamps issued as journey to Red Planet crosses halfway mark

The stamps feature the Emirates’ Hope probe that is en route to Mars

Four commemorative stamps celebrating UAE Mars Mission have been issued by Emirates Post. Emirates Post

Four commemorative stamps celebrating the UAE's historic mission to Mars have been issued by Emirates Post.

The collection charts the Hope probe's historic journey to the Red Planet, which is more than 50 per cent complete.

Two of stamps display the design of the satellite and the others illustrate the milestone moment the orbiter launched on board a Japanese rocket from Tanegashima Island on July 20.

Emirates Post issued an initial run of 100,000 of the stamps, along with 1,000 first day cover sheets.

They are now on sale at Emirates Post Central Customer Happiness Centres and online.

The Hope probe has already crossed 249.1 million kilometres of its 493.5 million-kilometre trip.

It is travelling at a speed of 99,915 kilometres per hour.

A first day cover celebrating the UAE's historic mission to Mars has been issued by Emirates Post. Emirates Post

A third course correction manoeuvre is set to be carried out by Emirati engineers at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre’s ground control centre next month.

This will be a major course correction, as the satellite gets closer to the Martian orbit.

Live tracking is available on the Emirates Mars Mission website and it appears the probe's arrival date will be February 9 or 10.

Once it arrives, it will study the upper and lower atmosphere of the Red Planet and its weather dynamics using its three scientific instruments.

However, the probe must first enter the Martian orbit, which is no easy task. More than half of the previous Mars missions failed.

Omran Sharaf, project manager of the mission, said he was aware of the challenges ahead.

"Yes, I am very nervous about it [Mars orbit insertion]," he told The National this month.

“At the end of the day, no matter how much you do, a very small mistake happens or if something goes slightly off, you lose the whole mission.

“Orbit insertion is a very risky operation. A lot of the countries couldn't make it in their first attempt. We are aware of that and we're trying to mitigate the risks.”

Mars missions by the US and China were also launched in July before the tight launch window closed this summer.

Their spacecraft are en route to Mars and are due to arrive at about the same time as Hope.

The Hope probe launches from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre on July 20. AFP

It will take the spacecraft, which later detached from the rocket, about 200 days to reach the Red Planet, arriving in February 2021. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

The launch of the rocket is captured on video at Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

The first homegrown Arab space mission drew in interest from across the globe. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Waiting for the launch in the morning light. MHI Launch Services twitter

Emirati journalists clap as they watch the launch of the Hope space probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP

A broadcasting of the launch of the Hope Mars probe at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP

An Emirati man wipes a tear away with his face mask while watching the launch of the Hope space probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP

Mohammed Al Mannaee, an announcer with Dubai TV, reacts as he watches the launch. AP

Sarah Al Ameeri and the UAE team watch the launch at at the Tanegashima Space Centre

The UAE team watch the launch of the Mars Hope probe at at the Tanegashima Space Centre.

Sarah Al Ameeri and the UAE team watch the launch at at the Tanegashima Space Centre

A screen broadcasts the launch of the Mars probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP

Solid rocket booster (SRB-A) was separated after burnout during the launch of the H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Mars explore, are recorded by cameras onboard the rocket after the lauch from Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. REUTERS

A screen broadcasts the launch of the Mars probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP

The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: MHI Launch Services

Omran Sharaf, the project director for the Hope space probe, speaks on his mobile phone at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP

Sarah Al Ameeri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences of United Arab Emirates, celebrates with Naohiko Abe, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Senior Vice President, Head of Integrated Defence and Space Systems, after the successful launch of the H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Mars explore, at Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. REUTERS

Emiratis are pictured at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai ahead of the expected launch of the "Hope" Mars probe from Japan. AFP

The weather was clear over Tanegashima Island in southern Japan on Sunday after weeks of rain and cloudy conditions. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Emirati engineers wave in a picture taken on Sunday from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission / UAE Space Agency

The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Screengrab courtesy MHI Launch Services