UAE's Mars probe's $200m cost among the world's lowest, Al Gergawi says

Dubai - Minister of Cabinet Affairs says the superb progress of the Hope Probe matches the UAE's containment of Covid-19.

The cost of the Hope Mars Mission has reached $200 million (Dh735 million), which is considered among the lowest in the world when compared with similar programmes, said Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs.
Addressing a media briefing in Dubai on Tuesday, Al Gergawi detailed the achievements of the Emirates Mars Mission team. These include the development of 200 new designs, manufacturing of 66 pieces of the probe components in the UAE, publishing 51 research papers on the project, in addition to benefiting over 60,000 participants through the mission's scientific and academic programmes.
He praised the support given by the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to the project.
"Today, the mission also reached another milestone, when the spacecraft was positioned on to the rocket that will send it into space," he said.
The Mission's success, Al Gergawi continued, is concurrent with the UAE's successes in containing the coronavirus.
"Commitment to deadlines is an approach that the UAE is following in all its plans and projects," he said.
The Hope Probe is set to lift off on July 15, 2020 at 00:51:27 UAE time from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan.
The probe is anticipated to enter the Mars orbit in February 2021, coinciding with the UAE's Golden Jubilee celebrations to mark the historic union of the Emirates.

• Dubai