UAE Mars Mission: Youth offered hope in unstable region

Sarah Al Amiri, head of UAE’s space programme, says focus on space and science has inspired Arab youth

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

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  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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  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

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

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

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

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

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

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  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

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

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

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

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  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

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  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

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

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

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

The UAE’s landmark mission to Mars has been a key driver of positive change in what was “once a highly unstable region”, an Emirati minister has said.

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and chair of the UAE Space Agency, said the Emirates Mars Mission was intended to inspire Arab youth.

A spacecraft called Hope was launched on July 20 last year and is expected to reach Mars on February 9, as part of the Arab world's first interplanetary mission.

If successful, it will help the UAE become part of an elite club of nations to reach the Red Planet.

“We understood jointly what this mission could do for the region at that time – that was close to mid-2014 when this region was highly unstable,” Ms Al Amiri said during a virtual media briefing on Thursday.

"It resounded to all of us that this mission could provide a value proposition that is different from extremism, turmoil and instability.

“So, we started on this journey of ‘let’s build a space mission to Mars’ and it’s truly been a journey of building a family of individuals who think differently, but have a joint purpose.

"That has allowed us to reach to the point that we're at today.”

Parts of the Middle East region were highly unstable in 2014. Iraq was on the brink of civil war; ISIS, aided by its recruitment of foreign fighters, had a foothold in Syria; and there was a refugee crisis in Lebanon and Jordan as Syrians fled the fighting.

The region continues to face challenges, but Ms Al Amiri said she believed the growing space sector has created a positive change.

“We have seen a lot of interest at the level of space agencies and representatives of space sectors across the Arab world on how we created our own niche in space and why that’s important," she said.

"That interest has been increasing, especially after the Emirates Mars Mission.

"Also – and this is more anecdotal within the circle of people in the Arab region who I've had discussions with – they were speculating on whether we would be able to achieve this objective.

"For them, it has been a reality check on what is possible from this region and how we can create positive change.

"I think a lot of the youth – especially over the  past six to seven years – have been really frustrated with instability and are looking for the creation of stability."

Emiratis make up most of the UAE’s space sector personnel, but Ms Al Amiri said they would be hiring three other Arabs to help with the country’s development efforts in space.

The UAE also helped form the Arab Space Co-operation Group, an organisation of space agencies from various Arab countries.

Its formation is intended to help increase collaboration in the region.

Aside from the Mars mission, the Emirates has also announced plans for a lunar mission, growing its astronaut corps and sending more Emiratis into space.

How the world covered Hope probe's launch - in pictures

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  South China Morning Post's report on the blast-off early on Monday morning

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  The New York Times focused on the probe's seven month journey to the Red Planet

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  Russia Today said 'the launch marks the first interplanetary exploration mission by an Arab country'

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  In Beirut, the Daily Star wrote: 'At the space centre in Dubai, people watching were transfixed by the lift-off, then cheered and clapped'

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  BBC News has given the mission prominent coverage in recent days, with website, TV bulletin and radio reports on its progress and lift-off

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  'Almost an hour after take-off, applause resounded in the Japanese control room when the probe separated,' France 24 wrote