UAE’s Mars team wish China luck ahead of Tianwen-1 orbit entry
US space agency Nasa’s Perseverance rover will arrive on Mars on February 18
A Long March-5 rocket, carrying an orbiter, lander and rover as part of the Tianwen-1 mission to Mars, lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in southern China's Hainan Province. AFP
The Long March 5 Y-4 rocket, carrying an unmanned Mars probe of the Tianwen-1 mission, takes off from Wenchang Space Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan Province, China. REUTERS
Liu Tongjie, spokesman for China's Mars exploration mission, talks to the media before the launch of Tianwen-1 Mars exploration mission by Long March 5 Y-4 rocket, at Wenchang Space Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan Province, China. REUTERS
A Long March-5 rocket, carrying an orbiter, lander and rover as part of the Tianwen-1 mission to Mars, lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in southern China's Hainan Province. AFP
The Long March 5 Y-4 rocket, carrying an unmanned Mars probe of the Tianwen-1 mission, is seen before the launch at Wenchang Space Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan Province, China. REUTERS
A Long March-5 rocket is seen at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, Friday, July 17, 2020. AP
This photo taken on July 17, 2020 shows a Long March 5 rocket being transferred before a planned launch in Wenchang in China's southern Hainan province. AFP
A child whispers to a woman as they visit an exhibition depicting rovers and bio-domes in Mars, in Beijing. AP Photo
A replica of Mars lander and rovers on display at a shopping mall in Beijing, China. EPA
The UAE’s Mars mission team leader wished China luck on Wednesday, hours before their Tianwen-1 spacecraft was scheduled to attempt its own orbit insertion on the Red Planet.
Tianwen-1 was approaching Mars less than 24 hours after UAE made history by becoming the fifth nation to reach the planet with its probe, named Hope.
Omran Al Sharaf, mission director, said they hoped China’s mission would be successful, as it would also produce valuable data.
“The more missions that reach Mars, the better,” he told The National.
“We are paying attention to whether it's going to be successful, and we hope that it is. It will add more value to the global effort of data generation towards better understanding Mars.”
This is China’s second attempt at reaching Mars. In 2011, it lost its Yinghou-1 spacecraft after the Russian rocket carrying it failed mid-flight.
Tianwen-1 includes an orbiter and a lander. It will study soil and rock composition, and the planet's atmosphere, while searching for signs of buried water ice.
The spacecraft sent a 'selfie' of itself during its seven-month journey and has already beamed back a grayscale image of Mars.
The Tianwen-1 probe en route to Mars, on December 16, 2020. Courtesy: China National Space Administration
US space agency Nasa’s Perseverance rover will arrive on Mars on February 18. At a cost of $2.7 billion, Perseverance is one of the most expensive Mars missions to date.
The rover will collect rock core and soil samples from an area on the planet that is thought to have previously been habitable.
It is the world’s first return mission to Mars with collected samples expected to be sent to Earth by 2031 through a joint Nasa and European Space Agency project.
The nuclear-powered rover will spend two Earth years exploring the 45 kilometre-wide Jezero crater, which contained a lake and river delta billions of years ago.
The rover also has a mini ‘helicopter’ on board, that will be deployed on landing. This will scan nearby areas that can be explored.
All three missions were launched last summer to take advantage of a narrow launch window, when Mars and Earth were at their closest.
UAE celebrates arrival of Hope probe to Mars
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 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 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
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
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 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
