Dubai: The final design of the Hope Probe, the region’s first-of-its-kind mission to explore Mars, was approved yesterday (Wednesday), making the UAE among the nine countries aspiring to explore Mars.
The final design was endorsed by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
فيديو: محمد بن راشد يزور مركز محمد بن راشد للفضاء ويعتمد التصميم النهائي لمسبار الأمل ويضع القطعة الأساسية لأول قمر صناعي عربي "خليفة سات" pic.twitter.com/pEXi9hLBQC— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) November 2, 2016
The Hope Probe is set to arrive in Mars by 2021 in conjunction with the UAE celebration of its National Day.
“Space tops the UAE aspirations and we will continue investing in our national cadres to provide the human knowledge with a new addition on Mars. The Hope Probe represents a paradigm shift in the UAE scientific progress and is the first of its kind step in the Arab and Islamic world that would further contribute to serving the humanity”, Shaikh Mohammad said.
The first Arabic letters to arrive in Mars will make the phrase ‘Misbar Al Amal’ (Hope Probe), Shaikh Mohammad highlighted during a visit to Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) where he also approved the second phase of the UAE satellite manufacturing and assembling complex.
Being able to implement several space projects at the same time, the complex will be used to install and assemble various satellites designed according to the highest international standards and specifications.
The complex is equipped with exact measurements of systems and space stimulation devices as well as a purpose-built crane to carry satellites during manufacturing and assembling operations.
The first phase of the complex, which completed the establishment of Khalifa Sat, featured a custom-made room to manufacture satellites and electrical engineering and mechanical engineering laboratories.
During his visit, Shaikh Mohammad fixed the first piece on the final structure of Khalifa Sat, the Arab’s first satellite to be fully developed by Emirati engineers. The fixed piece will be responsible for automatically directing transmission equipment “XAPM” and sending data and images to any ground stations in the world.
Khalifa Sat, which will be launched in 2018, is distinguished by a high-resolution camera (70cm) which will enable concerned authorities to arrive at more meticulous results in their studies.
Khalifa Sat also has a greater storage capacity and a high-downloading speed, making it possible to take more and more images in a shorter time.
Shaikh Mohammad expressed his pride in Khalifa Sat as it is the UAE first satellite to be built by Emirati engineers.
“The UAE today has a full capacity to develop satellites without any external help. We are so keen on being a regional key hub for the space industry and we will continue our investments in developing Emirati cadres in the space industry until we become an indispensable source of experience in the world,” Shaikh Mohammad noted.
Shaikh Mohammad underscored the importance of investing in the space industry, which is a strategic approach for the UAE that supports national interests and contributes to building a knowledge-based economy.
Hope Probe, launched earlier in 2015, will set off in mid-2021 to coincide with the UAE celebration of National Day and will travel 600 million km before arriving at its final stop.
The Hope Probe project will help create a better understanding of the climate changes taking place in Mars and uncover the reasons behind atmospheric corrosion which has made life on its land impossible.
The probe will also provide more than 1,000GB of new data about the Red Planet. It will study Mars round the clock and throughout the four seasons. The data will be thoroughly studied by Emirati scientists and will later be published in more than 200 space centres around the world.
The world’s youngest team of Emirati experts, scientists and engineers is leading the project. With an average age of 27, women account for 40 per cent of the team members.
During the visit, Shaikh Mohammad also inaugurated the first sustainable house disconnected from Dubai’s power grid. The house is provided with smart solutions using energy technologies developed for space.
Shaikh Mohammad was accompanied by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, Lt Gen Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, and Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs and the Future, as well as other shaikhs and senior officials.
