This archive report was first published on 20 July 2020.
On July 20, 2020, the UAE witnessed a historic moment as its first Arab interplanetary mission, Hope, blasted off from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center at 6:58 am local time (2158 GMT Sunday).
The launch was met with rapturous applause in the Emirates, with the command and control centre at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) abuzz with excitement. The centre, which spearheaded the Mars project, had over 450 people working on it, with more than half being Emirati nationals.
"This is the future of the UAE," said Sarah al-Amiri, the deputy project manager of the UAE Mars mission and Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, in an interview with Dubai TV from the launch site. "We are waiting for the moment of separation and the first signal... I thank the UAE for this opportunity," she added.
The UAE's Hope mission, also known as Al-Amal in Arabic, has been a source of great pride for the country, a newcomer to the world of space. The mission aims to provide a comprehensive image of the weather dynamics in Mars's atmosphere and pave the way for scientific breakthroughs.
As the mission progresses, it is expected to reach Mars's orbit by February 2021, marking the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE. The UAE wants the project to serve as a source of inspiration for Arab youth, in an often volatile region.
"'Hope' belongs to millions of young people in this region who long for progress, inspiration & opportunity; it's a direct challenge to those who continue to suppress these aspirations," tweeted Hend al-Otaiba, director of strategic communications at the UAE's foreign ministry.
Hours before the launch, Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper, lit up with a symbolic 10-second countdown in anticipation of the launch that had already been delayed twice this month due to weather conditions.
