![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6CUVE2AVU3GVYPPCOQFFVHBIDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8653417c46b3f7ef0d76b47cef515109e2f347c6752185e014a8a3ebbe2b3948&width=400&height=225)
Southern Japan has been battered by heavy rain and bad weather for weeks. Courtesy: Yoshiaki Sakita
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B5OJ4Q4MYFAVVO2ZCNLQZZYTOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=48a13654c32746c0e9e51acb433f76a1e938704865415ce6bc17120949775e5f&width=400&height=225)
Mission staff monitor the weather over southern Japan before the launch of Hope probe was postponed because of wet conditions on Tanegashima island. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WSPPMU4NRM4O57LEN5VVPEYCQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fce5600da7beead2b025fd0f783ec2e932f87d9ba8eab49a09a4ff69d8935566&width=400&height=225)
A Mitsubishi H-IIA rocket fitted with the Hope probe at Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan. The launch was postponed twice this week due to unstable weather. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HV2H2QEJAKICWVRJAWTPRUDB5M.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d56243d73c40a7efd6869163297681cc163aa3df6d12163bd815b0b3fb71a7a&width=400&height=225)
Officials said they were not willing to rush the blast-off if there was a risk of losing the probe
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTJHYCDQUF3UIWLYVHA5L6ZZAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fe40a08589a7678ae4db127dfe53238a6223512651394c696924fe8dd331713&width=400&height=225)
An earlier image of the nose cone, in which the probe is sent into space, being transported to the launch site on Tanegashima island
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GALPA5SP3PP3ZY3WSBRPKA6DBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=bbf475d78e43ce21ce6ddb1ca5359528ecaf5a264139e8072f9b2f4b1578f3c8&width=400&height=225)
Preparations for the launch. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MOKV76CXFH6FVDRJ75TPMHJBDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2faa46b9c77ace47e0bc7df7280da1a1acf86a3bb76f03d73b724a89ee7f5ef&width=400&height=225)
UAE project manager Omran Sharaf and Keiji Suzuki of rocket builder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at a briefing on Monday. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6CUVE2AVU3GVYPPCOQFFVHBIDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8653417c46b3f7ef0d76b47cef515109e2f347c6752185e014a8a3ebbe2b3948&width=400&height=225)
Southern Japan has been battered by heavy rain and bad weather for weeks. Courtesy: Yoshiaki Sakita
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B5OJ4Q4MYFAVVO2ZCNLQZZYTOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=48a13654c32746c0e9e51acb433f76a1e938704865415ce6bc17120949775e5f&width=400&height=225)
Mission staff monitor the weather over southern Japan before the launch of Hope probe was postponed because of wet conditions on Tanegashima island. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WSPPMU4NRM4O57LEN5VVPEYCQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fce5600da7beead2b025fd0f783ec2e932f87d9ba8eab49a09a4ff69d8935566&width=400&height=225)
A Mitsubishi H-IIA rocket fitted with the Hope probe at Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan. The launch was postponed twice this week due to unstable weather. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HV2H2QEJAKICWVRJAWTPRUDB5M.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d56243d73c40a7efd6869163297681cc163aa3df6d12163bd815b0b3fb71a7a&width=400&height=225)
Officials said they were not willing to rush the blast-off if there was a risk of losing the probe
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTJHYCDQUF3UIWLYVHA5L6ZZAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fe40a08589a7678ae4db127dfe53238a6223512651394c696924fe8dd331713&width=400&height=225)
An earlier image of the nose cone, in which the probe is sent into space, being transported to the launch site on Tanegashima island
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GALPA5SP3PP3ZY3WSBRPKA6DBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=bbf475d78e43ce21ce6ddb1ca5359528ecaf5a264139e8072f9b2f4b1578f3c8&width=400&height=225)
Preparations for the launch. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MOKV76CXFH6FVDRJ75TPMHJBDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2faa46b9c77ace47e0bc7df7280da1a1acf86a3bb76f03d73b724a89ee7f5ef&width=400&height=225)
UAE project manager Omran Sharaf and Keiji Suzuki of rocket builder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at a briefing on Monday. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6CUVE2AVU3GVYPPCOQFFVHBIDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8653417c46b3f7ef0d76b47cef515109e2f347c6752185e014a8a3ebbe2b3948&width=400&height=225)
Southern Japan has been battered by heavy rain and bad weather for weeks. Courtesy: Yoshiaki Sakita
UAE Mars Mission postponed again due to bad weather
A new launch date for July will be announced within the next 24 hours
![Sarwat Nasir](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5a1721d1-b1fc-47a7-8c35-985395d5a5ae.png?smart=true&auth=59b598b8295381dbbb5492b5ef6a2ffa0d77e07c0a1086053fcdbee600f14b7f&width=70&height=70)
Sarwat Nasir
15 July, 2020
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