The final checks and tests on the Emirates Mars Mission – Hope Probe are currently under way as it prepares for its voyage to the orbit of the Red Planet.
Scheduled for launch on Wednesday, 15 July 2020 at 00:51:27 UAE time from Tanegashima Space Centre, TNSC, in Japan. The final checks are being led by a team of young Emiratis.
The Probe has undergone a series of tests since its arrival at the Tanegashima Centre in April. These tests, which are done over a period of 50 working days, entail functional tests of the spacecraft subsystems that include electrical power, communication, altitude control, command and control, propulsion, thermal control and software systems.
The process also includes filling the fuel tank with about 800 kilogrammes of hydrogen fuel and ensuring that there are no leaks. It also requires moving the probe to the launch pad, installing the probe on the rocket, and ensuring the batteries are fully charged prior to liftoff.
“The commencement of the final checks and tests on the Hope Probe in line with our schedule reiterates our commitment and detailed planning process to ensure the success of this Mission,” said Dr. Ahmad bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency.
Dr. Ahmad Belhoul reiterated that the Hope Probe is representative of the ambitions of the UAE and its positive message of hope to the region and the world. “The core message is to strive passionately and overcome obstacles to find solutions that benefit the humanity at large, which exemplifies the UAE leadership’s vision. We are confident of the Hope Probe reaching the Mars orbit in February 2021, coinciding with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations,” he said.
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