LONDON: After traversing hundreds of millions of kilometers, the UAE’s starting spacecraft – the Hope Probe – is just days away from reaching Mars, but the mission has the positive impact of the mission. house already made successful, the leadership behind the project is said.
Currently traveling through space at around 120,000 km per hour, the Hope Probe will enter Mars orbit on Feb. 9, making the UAE just the fifth country ever to see the red planet to reach.
This is an “important milestone,” said Omran Sharaf, project manager at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC), at a webinar held Monday by the Emirates Association and attended by Arab News.
“But this project was not just about reaching Mars. Science and data are very important and one of the key drivers of the mission, but there is much more to it than that. ”
The Hope Probe is near Mars. Congratulations to everyone during the historic Emirati Mission to Mars. pic.twitter.com/XFTGHFybat
– م مد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) February 1, 2021
The UAE’s Mars mission was “aimed at creating disruptive change and positive impact at home, and encouraging movement in Emirati’s youth priorities,” Sharaf said.
He said the project is already working as a “civil engine” in Emirati society that inspired and supported the creation of an advanced science sector in the UAE.
The “build it, don’t buy it” philosophy behind the mission has been instrumental in building confidence in the UAE’s science, technology and research sectors, he said.
My brother Mohammed bin Rashid and I spoke about our national achievements, particularly in space and science, and our pride in the country ‘s youth. We learned from Sarah Al-Amiri about the progress of the Hope probe as it approaches Mars. We wish you every success on this historic journey pic.twitter.com/28k11MK1tC
– م مد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) February 1, 2021
Sarah Al-Amiri, UAE minister of state for advanced sciences, said the mission “has taught us a tool with which we can develop talent and abilities, move them through different levels of knowledge and, more importantly, develop small businesses that can serve large businesses. ”
The country’s fast-growing space industry will play a key role, she said, in creating new private sector enterprises in the UAE.
Not only has the mission stimulated scientific awakening in the UAE, it has also demonstrated the country’s commitment to multilateralism, especially when it comes to space exploration and the data behind it.
“From the first day of this project, the direction we have received from the government is to share data from this mission openly, with everyone, and without hindrance,” said Sharaf. “We always intended to be open with the data collected by this mission.”
What are the upcoming stages of the Hope Probe tour?#HopeProbe pic.twitter.com/LVbbYdoNox
– Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) February 1, 2021
Al-Amiri reaffirmed its country’s commitment to Artemis Accords, an international agreement aimed at ensuring peaceful cooperation among space nations.
“International collaboration will continue to grow in space, especially with new players entering the field of space exploration,” she said.
“Collaboration was already behind many space missions. Our own science team is made up of international scientists from all over the world – that’s the kind of place study, ”she said.
“We remain part of that, and will continue to be part of the overall international landscape when it comes to space exploration.”