About the Emirates Mars Mission

The UAE plans to compelte the first ever Arab mission to another planet, and aims to be among the top countries in the space industry. Here's everything you need to know about the mission.

Posted on

20 July 2015

| Last updated on 2 January 2018

First ever Arab mission to another planet

As with anything, the UAE aims to go above and beyond. Part of this aspirational and developing outlook comes space exploration and travel - and as the first-ever Arab Islamic mission to another planet, the Emirates Mars Mission is set to demonstrate the capability of the Arab people as contributors to humanity and civilisation.

"It proves that optimism, confidence and ambition can deliver the greatest achievements no matter the place."

The mission is planned, managed and executed by a team based in the UAE. They will work extremely hard to ensure key technologies will be designed, built and assembled locally - and not imported. Technical knowledge will be developed in the UAE, and transferred through collaboration with partners - and not outsourced.

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With this approach, the Emirates Mars Mission will leave behind a valuable and enduring legacy in the form of human capital: a generation of experienced scientists and engineers trained and inspired by the Mars mission.

The UAE government sees the Red Planet project as a turning point in the country's development, and aims to be among the top countries worldwide in the field of space technology by the time the orbiter arrives at Mars in 2021.

The Emirates Mars Mission factsheet

The Emirates Mars Mission orbiter is set to arrive at Mars in 2021, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE.

The rocket must launch from Earth during a brief window in July 2020, at which point both Earth and Mars will be aligned at their closest point. An event that only occurs every two years.

Launchdate: July 2020
Crusing distance from Earth to Mars: More than 60 million kilometres
Crusing time from Earth to Mars: approx. 200 days
Arrives in Mars ("Mars Orbit Insertion"): First quarter 2021
Orbit shape: Elliptical (oval)
Orbit period: 55 hours
Altitude of science orbit: 22,000 to 44,000km
Science operation begins: Mid-2021
Primary science operations duration: 2 years
Extended science operations duration: Potential for 2 more years

"If a small, young Arab nation is able to reach Mars, truly, anything is possible."

With the hopes of the country, region and Arab and Muslim worlds behind it, the Emirates Mars Mission probe has, very appropriately, been named Hope. In Arabic, it is called Al Amal. It's name was chosen with the help of UAE nationals and residents via social media.