• Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid personally thank staff from mission control in Dubai after Hope probe's successful orbit entry on February 9. The National
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid personally thank staff from mission control in Dubai after Hope probe's successful orbit entry on February 9. The National
  • A man celebrates at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A man celebrates at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • An event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    An event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Guests arrive at the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Guests arrive at the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A guest attending the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A guest attending the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Burj Park was set up for people to watch the Hope probe attempt its Mars orbit insertion. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter
    Burj Park was set up for people to watch the Hope probe attempt its Mars orbit insertion. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter
  • UAE Mars Mission engineer, Hessa Al Matroushi, was interviewed at a Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UAE Mars Mission engineer, Hessa Al Matroushi, was interviewed at a Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Engineer Hessa Al Matroushi attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Engineer Hessa Al Matroushi attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • TV crews get ready at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    TV crews get ready at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • An event at Dubai's Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    An event at Dubai's Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Guests and media arrive at an event at Burj Park to witness Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Guests and media arrive at an event at Burj Park to witness Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The Burj Khalifa lights up at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The Burj Khalifa lights up at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The UAE Flag area on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi lights up in red to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
    The UAE Flag area on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi lights up in red to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
  • The ADNOC Headquarters lights up in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
    The ADNOC Headquarters lights up in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed celebrates with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed celebrates with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • People celebrate at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to mark the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    People celebrate at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to mark the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Science

UAE’s Hope probe prepares to transition into science orbit around Mars

The spacecraft will fire its thrusters for eight to nine minutes on March 23

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir
UAE

March 21, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE’s Hope probe will soon perform the first of two manoeuvres to get closer to its science orbit around Mars.

The spacecraft, which reached the Red Planet on February 9, will begin its mission of collecting atmospheric data once it enters the target orbit in April.

On March 23, at 1am Gulf Standard Time, the probe will fire its thrusters for eight to nine minutes to correct its positioning.

I think it's fair to say there is huge excitement now in our science team and among Mars scientists around the world

For the past few weeks, Hope has been travelling as close as 1,063 kilometres to Mars’ planetary surface and as far away as 42,461 km.

The goal is to reach an elliptical science orbit of 20,000 km to 43,000 km, where it can then spend two years gathering data.

“Our Mars orbit insertion was highly successful and precisely targeted and this has allowed us to plan a reduction in transition to science manoeuvres, and also to move to our science orbit ahead of schedule,” said Omran Sharaf, team leader of the mission.

  • 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, meet the Hope Probe team, after its successful entry into the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Seen with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    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, meet the Hope Probe team, after its successful entry into the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Seen with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • 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, meet the Hope Probe team. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    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, meet the Hope Probe team. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • 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, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Also there are Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Rashid Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    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, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Also there are Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Rashid Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Mohammed Abdulla Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Mohammed Abdulla Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • 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, meet the Hope Probe team, after its successful entry into the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Rashid Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    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, meet the Hope Probe team, after its successful entry into the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Rashid Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Members of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre participate during the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Members of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre participate during the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Member of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre participates during the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars. Rashid Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Member of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre participates during the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars. Rashid Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • 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, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed, Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Talal Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Vice President of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, witness the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Rashid Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    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, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed, Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Talal Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Vice President of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, witness the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Rashid Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Talal Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Vice President of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, and Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, witness the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Ismaeel Al Zaher / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Talal Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Vice President of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, and Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, witness the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Ismaeel Al Zaher / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed, witnesses the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Rashid Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed, witnesses the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Rashid Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed, witness the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Ismaeel Al Zaher / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed, witness the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Ismaeel Al Zaher / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive and managing director of Mubadala Investment Company, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon, witness the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Ismaeel Al Zaher / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive and managing director of Mubadala Investment Company, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon, witness the arrival of the Hope Probe in the orbit of Mars, at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Ismaeel Al Zaher / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

“We will commence science data gathering earlier in April than we had originally planned, and I think it’s fair to say there is huge excitement now in our science team and among Mars scientists around the world.”

The strategic orbital placement will allow the spacecraft to complete one full circle around the planet every 55 hours and capture a full planetary data sample every nine days.

Hope’s three scientific instruments, the Emirates eXploration Imager (EXI) – a high-resolution camera and an ultraviolet and infrared spectrometer, will capture data.

Several high-resolution, infrared and ultraviolet photos were released earlier this month that measured gases present in the Martian atmosphere.

Hope will study why gases crucial to life are escaping from the atmosphere. It will also trace movement of energy through the atmosphere and the planet’s weather dynamics.

The last manoeuvre before it enters its science orbit is scheduled for April 6.

All images and science data gathered by the UAE Mars Mission are being uploaded online.

UAESpaceUae In SpaceScience