UAE Hope mission: 493 million km journey begins, next stop Mars, says Sheikh Mohammed

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Dubai - UAE leaders laud the successful launch of the Hope Mars probe.

By Web Report

Published: Mon 20 Jul 2020, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Tue 21 Jul 2020, 9:28 PM

Our 493 million-km journey to the Red Planet starts here: This is how the UAE's Vice-President expressed his pride after the country's Hope probe to Mars successfully reached its space orbit on Monday.

"We proudly announce the successful launch of the Hope probe. The Dubai ground control station has received the signal from the probe after its solar panels were successfully deployed to charge its batteries," said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

We proudly announce the successful launch of the Hope probe. The ground control station in Dubai has received the first signal from the probe after its solar panels were successfully deployed to charge its batteries. Our 493 million km journey to the Red Planet starts here.
- HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 20, 2020

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- HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 20, 2020

"We rely on the UAE's youth and they never disappoint ... they have made us all proud and have ushered in a new era in our history. The journey has begun ... and the mission has just commenced. Next stop: The Red Planet," he said. "Going beyond Earth's gravitation is a new era in the history of our scientific achievements."

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said the UAE has strengthened its position as a country that creates the future and embraces hope. "The success of this launch is a culmination of five decades of accomplishments across different fields for the UAE. Today, we're reaping what our founding fathers have sowed by creating qualified Emirati talents which is helping us compete with the world.

We watched the successful launch of the Hope Probe to Mars with pride and joy, as we embark on a new chapter in space, led by our exceptional youth. Congratulations to the UAE for this historic achievement.
- ???? ?? ???? (@MohamedBinZayed) July 20, 2020

"The UAE is winning the bet, and our people have proved their ability to achieve the impossible. The future is much greater and better."

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), also took to social media to share an inspiring message. He posted a video of the launch and all the behind-the-scenes action and captioned it: "There is no 'impossible' where there is faith and strong will."

There is no "impossible" where there is faith and strong will. pic.twitter.com/A6U6QoZUA4
- Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) July 20, 2020

The probe will cruise at a speed of 121,000km/hr for seven months to reach its Martian orbit in February 2021 - the year that marks 50 years of the UAE's formation.

The launch of the probe was delayed twice due to unstable weather conditions. The probe will orbit Mars for an entire Martian year - 687 days - and provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere and its layers.

The Hope Probe was made possible by the efforts of our creative and dedicated youth, who remain our most significant investment. Our gratitude to them and my brother Mohammed bin Rashid's determination to mark an important chapter in the UAE's history and its future's vision. pic.twitter.com/uk7CK5hCZf
- ???? ?? ???? (@MohamedBinZayed) July 18, 2020