UAE's Hope probe rocket fuelled up, liftoff hours away

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UAE Hope Probe, rocket, fuelled up, Liftoff, 8hours

Dubai - The team has got two 'Go' decisions ahead of liftoff after weather assessments.

By Sahim Salim

Published: Sun 19 Jul 2020, 6:00 PM

Last updated: Mon 20 Jul 2020, 3:26 AM

H-IIA F42, the rocket that will take the UAE's Hope probe to space, has been fuelled up. "We are looking at liftoff in 8 hours," the Emirates Mars Mission tweeted on Sunday, July 19.

The fueling of the H2A launch vehicle is complete. We are looking at lift-off in 8 hours. #HopeMarsMission
- Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 19, 2020

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the rocket operator, announced that access will now be restricted within a radius of 3,000 metres from the launch pad at Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre.

The Launch Vehicle, which is carrying the #HopeProbe, has been rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building and has arrived at the launch pad. #HopeMarsMission pic.twitter.com/pm1k84mhXO
- Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 19, 2020

The terminal countdown operation - a simulation one ahead of the actual countdown - for the Hope probe launch began earlier today.
Important: Rocket with UAE's Mars probe rolled out to launch pad
Final checks have been carried out on the rocket, including assessing the launch vehicle, satellites, tracking and control systems, as well as weather conditions.
The team has got two 'Go' decisions ahead of liftoff after weather assessments. After being delayed twice due to foul weather in Japan, the probe is scheduled to take off at 1.58am on Monday.
sahim@khaleejtimes.com