The Mars programme is part of the UAE's efforts to develop
its scientific and technological capabilities and reduce its reliance on oil.
The UAE Space Agency, the fifth globally to reach the planet, even has a plan
for a Mars settlement by 2117.
"Contact with #HopeProbe has been established again.
The Mars Orbit Insertion is now complete," said the Mohammed Bin Rashid
Space Centre, where the ruler of Dubai and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi were
present to receive the news.
The attempt had a 50% chance of failing, Dubai's ruler and
UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had said. To enter
Mars' orbit, the probe needed to burn around half its 800 kg (1,760 lbs) of
onboard fuel to slow down enough not to overshoot, the most dangerous part of
the journey.
"Today is the start of a new chapter in Arab history
... of trust in our capability to compete with other nations and people,"
Sheikh Mohammed tweeted after the probe entered orbit. "The UAE will
celebrate its Golden Jubilee with science, culture and inspiration because we
aim to build a model of development."
This year marks 50 years since independence from Britain and
the founding of the UAE federation, which groups seven emirates, including
Dubai. Mars probes launched by China and NASA just after the UAE's lift-off in
July are also set to reach the planet this month.
MARTIAN ATMOSPHERE
The Emirates Mars Mission, which has cost around $200
million, launched the Hope Probe from a Japanese space centre. It aims to
provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere for the first time,
studying daily and seasonal changes.
Minister of State for Advanced Technology and chair of the
UAE Space Agency Sarah al-Amiri told Reuters it would take a few weeks to start
collecting a mixture of data and images, which could be made publicly available
as early as September.
"It's an endeavour in developing capabilities and
talent in the country, it is something that has never been done before in terms
of utilising a planetary exploration mission to do this," she said.
The UAE first announced plans for the mission in 2014 and
launched a National Space Programme in 2017 to develop local expertise. Its
population of 9.4 million, most of whom are foreign workers, lacks the
scientific and industrial base of the big spacefaring nations.
Hazza al-Mansouri became the first Emirati in space in 2019
when he flew to the International Space Station.
To develop and build the Hope Probe, Emiratis and Dubai's
Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) worked with U.S. educational
institutions.
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