Dubai: The blueprints and science goals for the first Arab mission to Mars have been revealed for the first time. The probe, named Al Amal or ‘Hope’, will create mankind’s first integrated model of the Red Planet’s atmosphere.
The announcement featured presentations from the Emirates Mars Mission team in the presence of high-level delegations headed by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Addressing the Mars team, Shaikh Mohammad said, “If the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan could have seen your work today, he would have tears in his eyes, as your work is the fruit of his work and the culmination of his march.
“This probe represents hope for millions of young Arabs looking for a better future. There is no future, no achievement, no life without hope,” Shaikh Mohammad said. “The Emirates Mars Mission will be a great contribution to human knowledge, a milestone for Arab civilisation, and a real investment for future generations.”
“The Emirates Mars Mission is a strategic investment in our human capital and an investment in our human capital is a winning investment. Future generations will reap the rewards of our investment in science and knowledge,”
The Emirates Mars Mission will send three important messages, he added.
“The first message is for the world: that Arab civilisation once played a great role in contributing to human knowledge, and will play that role again.”
“The second message is to our Arab brethren: that nothing is impossible, and that we can compete with the greatest of nations in the race for knowledge.”
“The third message is for those who strive to reach the highest of peaks: set no limits to your ambitions and you can even reach space.”
He also pointed out that in a small tent 43 years ago, the late Shaikh Zayed and Shaikh Rashid [Bin Saaed Al Maktoum] worked day and night to build the Emirates we know today, and under the leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we have a team capable of competing with major nations in accessing Mars.”
Shaikh Mohammad announced that the probe would be called ‘Hope’, a name chosen after the Arab world was invited to submit suggestions in a public campaign.
“We thank everyone who participated and wanted to be part of this great historic project to send the first Arab probe to Mars. Everyone who took part is a partner in this mission,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
The Emirates Mars Mission team gave a full presentation on the project with all the scientific details in addition to a video about the journey to Mars.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, were among the many dignitaries who attended.
With inputs from WAM
