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'Marhaba Mars!': When UAE's Hope Probe was launched 5 years ago
From its unique orbit ranging from 20,000 to 43,000 km above the Martian surface, the Hope Probe completes one revolution around the planet every 55 hours
On July 20, 2020, the UAE embarked on a bold journey of ambition and discovery—the launch of the Hope Probe, the Arab world’s first interplanetary mission. Less than seven months later, on February 9, 2021, the UAE stunned the world by successfully inserting the spacecraft into Martian orbit, making the country only the fifth in history after the US, Russia, the EU, and India to reach the red planet.
Today, five years since that daring launch from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Centre, the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) is being celebrated as one of the UAE’s most remarkable scientific achievements.
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The stakes were sky-high. In February 2021, as the Hope Probe neared Mars, the atmosphere back home was electric. UAE leaders, scientists, and citizens gathered at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and at Burj Plaza, anxiously following the probe’s delicate Mars Orbit Insertion. Burj Khalifa stood illuminated in the background as a towering witness to the event.
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With a 22-minute communication delay, no real-time commands could be sent. The spacecraft had to autonomously fire its thrusters and slow down from 121,000 km/h to just 18,000 km/h to avoid either crashing into Mars or missing its orbit and vanishing into deep space.
Then came the words that resonated across the UAE and the Arab world: “Marhaba Mars!”
Mission accomplished
The timing was symbolic. The Hope Probe’s arrival at Mars coincided with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years of the nation’s union.
Since entering Martian orbit, the Hope Probe has far exceeded its original mission goals, collecting more than 1.7 terabytes of scientific data and freely sharing it with the international community. To date, over 688.5 gigabytes of processed data have been released publicly, helping scientists worldwide better understand Mars' atmosphere and weather patterns.
To recap, here are some of the mission’s key accomplishments:
Capturing never-before-seen images of Martian dust storms billowing across the surface.
Observing remarkable concentrations of oxygen and carbon monoxide in Mars' atmosphere.
Recording the sinuous discrete aurora, a mysterious 'worm-like' aurora on Mars’ nightside, something no previous Mars mission had documented.
Providing new insights into the escape of hydrogen and oxygen from Mars’ upper atmosphere, contributing to theories about how the planet lost its once-thick atmosphere over time.
New era for the UAE
From its unique orbit ranging from 20,000 to 43,000 km above the Martian surface, the Hope Probe completes one revolution around the planet every 55 hours, providing global coverage of the Martian atmosphere every nine days.
For the UAE, the Hope Probe represents far more than a single scientific mission; it’s a symbol of the country’s shift toward a knowledge-based economy and a driver of national pride in scientific achievement.
“This is the future of the UAE,” said Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency and Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, after the successful launch in 2020.
Since then, the nation has doubled down on its space ambitions:
In 2022, the UAE launched the National Space Fund, a Dh3 billion ($817 million) initiative to support space innovation, startups, and radar satellite development.
The UAE has also expanded its human spaceflight programme, with astronaut Saleh Al Ameri completing an eight-month isolation mission simulating conditions for future Mars missions.
Plans are underway for the UAE’s Lunar Mission, as part of the country’s broader goal of building a human settlement on Mars by 2117.
Looking ahead
With the Hope Probe still operational and continuously delivering data, the Emirates Mars Mission has already left a lasting legacy. It has opened doors for regional scientists, inspired a new generation of Emirati engineers, and contributed vital information to the global scientific community.
As Hessa Al Matroushi, EMM Science Lead, put it: “The latest insights reaffirm that there is much to discover. With every new data release, we’re not only learning about Mars, we’re building the future of space exploration for the UAE and the world.”
Five years on, the Hope Probe is still living up to its name, carrying the dreams of a nation and the promise of discovery far beyond Mars.
Azza Al Ali
Azza Al Ali is a reporter from Ras Al Khaimah, dedicated to sharing stories that bring the community’s voices to life. She’s passionate about connecting with people and highlighting what truly matters to them.
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