Dubai (AFP)
The first Arab space mission to Mars, led by the United Arab Emirates, is scheduled to take off on Thursday, after a slight delay due to the weather, in order to provide a complete picture of the temperature dynamics in the atmosphere of the red planet.
The launch of the probe named "Al-Amal" ("Hope" in French), scheduled for Tuesday at 8:51 p.m. GMT from the Japanese space center of Tanegashima, was rescheduled due to bad weather Thursday at 8:43 p.m. GMT (Friday at 5:43 a.m. in Japan and 12:43 a.m. in the Emirates).
The space ambitions of this oil-rich Gulf country are seen as reminiscent of the golden age of the great cultural and scientific achievements of the Middle East. Here are some elements of understanding.
- Multitude of projects -
In September 2019, Hazza al-Mansouri was the first Emirati to be sent into space, aboard a Soyuz rocket, and the first Arab citizen to stay in the International Space Station (ISS).
The country's ambitions go even further since it plans to build a human colony on Mars by 2117.
In the meantime, he plans to create a "scientific city" in the desert on the outskirts of Dubai, in order to simulate Martian conditions and develop the technology necessary to colonize the planet.
The Emirates are also considering mining and space tourism projects. They signed a memorandum of understanding with Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company of British billionaire Richard Branson.
- The journey of "hope" -
Next step therefore: the launch of the "Al-Amal" probe.
The 1,350 kg probe, the size of a 4x4, should take off from the Japanese space center of Tanegashima on July 17 at Japanese time (the 16 in GMT time), but with a launch window that extends up to at the beginning of August, depending on certain variables, including the weather.
It will take seven months to travel the 493 million km to Mars, in time to mark the 50th anniversary of the unification of the seven emirates in 2021.
The probe will remain in orbit for an entire Martian year, or 687 days.
- Inspire youth -
Three instruments fixed on "Hope" will provide a complete picture of the atmosphere of Mars throughout the Martian year.
An infrared spectrometer will measure the lower atmosphere and analyze the temperature structure, a high resolution imager will provide information on ozone levels and, finally, an ultraviolet spectrometer will measure oxygen and hydrogen levels from a distance of up to 43,000 kilometers from the surface.
Understanding the atmospheres of other planets should lead to a better understanding of the Earth's climate, say those responsible for the space mission.
In a region shaken by conflicts and weighed down by economic difficulties, the project is also considered as a way to inspire an entire generation and remind them of the peak of scientific advances in the Middle Ages.
"The Emirates wanted to send a strong message to the Arab youth and remind them of the past, that we were once generators of knowledge," said Omran Charaf, the project manager for the mission.
© 2020 AFP