The Dubai Frame colored in red to support the Hope mission around Mars.

-

Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

It's been a long journey for Hope (or Al-Amal in Arabic), launched last July.

On Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates probe successfully positioned itself around the orbit of Mars.

It is the first Arab country to achieve such a feat

“To the people of the United Arab Emirates, Arab and Muslim nations, we are announcing the successful entry into orbit around Mars.

Praise be to God ”, solemnly declared Omran Sharaf, the project manager of the mission.

Live from the space center in Dubai, he expressed his relief like the engineers present.

“What you have accomplished is an honor for your nation.

I want to congratulate you ”, launched Mohammed ben Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and strong man of the Emirates, rich country of the Gulf.

27 minutes of terror

The probe is designed to unlock the secrets of the Martian climate.

It is due to use three scientific instruments to monitor the Martian atmosphere and is expected to begin transmitting information in September, data that scientists around the world will have access to.

Hope's orbiting around Mars coincides with the 50th anniversary in 2021 of the unification of the seven emirates into the federation of the United Arab Emirates.

All the landmarks in the country will be illuminated in red at night.

The probe began a 27-minute maneuver of slowing down enough to be pulled by Martian gravity, the most difficult part of the mission, officials said.

The probe turned and ignited its six powerful thrusters to slow its speed to about 18,000 km / h.

"Twenty-seven blind minutes will determine the fate of seven years of work," tweeted earlier this week Sarah al-Amiri, president of the UAE Space Agency and Minister of State for Advanced Technologies.

Colonize Mars and inspire youth

"This project is very important for the nation, for the whole region and for the world science and space community," Omran Sharaf told AFP earlier.

According to him, the goal is "much bigger" than just reaching Mars.

“The government wants to bring about a big change in the mindset of the Emirati youth (…) to accelerate the creation of a cutting-edge science and technology sector,” he added.

While the probe is designed to provide a full picture of the planet's weather dynamics, it is also a step towards a much more ambitious goal: the establishment of a human colony on Mars within 100 years.

In addition to consolidating its status as a key regional player, the Emirates want the project to serve as a source of inspiration for Arab youth, in a region that is more often in the news for its devastating conflicts and political crises than for its prowess. scientists.

Unlike the Chinese Tianwen-1 and American Mars 2020 missions, which should arrive within a few days, “Hope” will not land on the Red Planet.

Science

The indestructible Curiosity celebrates its 3,000 Martian days, while awaiting the “cousin” with Perseverance next month

Society

NATO sets up its space headquarters in Toulouse to counter threats to its satellites

  • Space

  • March

  • Emirates

  • Science