• The final version of UAE's Hope spacecraft, which launched to space on July 20. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
    The final version of UAE's Hope spacecraft, which launched to space on July 20. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
  • The operations control centre at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The operations control centre at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The Hope probe has three scientific instruments. This is the Emirates Mars Infrared Spectrometre, which will measure the global distribution of dust, ice clouds, water vapour and the temperature of the Martian atmosphere. All photos courtesy of MBRSC
    The Hope probe has three scientific instruments. This is the Emirates Mars Infrared Spectrometre, which will measure the global distribution of dust, ice clouds, water vapour and the temperature of the Martian atmosphere. All photos courtesy of MBRSC
  • Engineers had installed the Mars infrared spectrometre on the Hope probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre' clean room
    Engineers had installed the Mars infrared spectrometre on the Hope probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre' clean room
  • The Emirates Eploration Imager will take high-resolution images of Mars and will study its lower atmosphere
    The Emirates Eploration Imager will take high-resolution images of Mars and will study its lower atmosphere
  • The exploration imager has an autonomous digital camera and will send back high-resolution colour images
    The exploration imager has an autonomous digital camera and will send back high-resolution colour images
  • The Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer will study the upper atmosphere and traces of oxygen and hydrogen
    The Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer will study the upper atmosphere and traces of oxygen and hydrogen
  • Emirati engineers have worked with three American universities for this mission
    Emirati engineers have worked with three American universities for this mission

Science

UAE Mars Mission launch: latest updates as Hope probe prepares for lift off

Follow our coverage as the UAE prepares to become the first Arab nation to reach the Red Planet

The National

July 14, 2020

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UPDATE: this blog is now closed, please join us again for the latest updates closer to the launch time.

The UAE is heading back into space – and this time it is to Mars.

Lift off was scheduled for 12.51am UAE time, on July 15, from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Centre but has since been postponed due to poor weather.

On Tuesday, the UAE Government said the probe would be launched on Friday, July 17, at 12.43am UAE time.

Emirati engineers in Japan have been doing final checks on the probe since April.

Once launched, Hope will take seven months to reach the Red Planet, where it will capture images and study Mars. Follow the latest developments here.

More on the UAE in space:

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