UAE Mars mission: History made as Hope probe enters orbit - live

Spacecraft faced its most perilous stage of its mission with a 50 per cent chance of success

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The UAE made history on Tuesday evening when its space agency joined an elite club of five that have sent a spacecraft to the Red Planet.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, personally thanked staff at mission control in Dubai.

Sheikh Mohamed said the bright young Emiratis who led the mission were “part of a generation that makes us proud”.

“You took our honour and our reputation up to Mars,” he said.