Find

The Emirates Mars Mission, the Arab world's first interplanetary exploration, has made the first observations of a new type of proton aurora around Mars. The spatially variable 'patchy' proton aurora could provide new insights into unexpected Martian atmospheric behavior. To fully characterize these observations, the EMM team collaborated with NASA's MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) mission.

These three types of aurora had previously been identified, but clear global images of the discrete aurora were elusive until new observations were made by EMM’s probe shortly after its arrival on Mars. Now, an increased focus on discrete aurora observations by the EMM science team has resulted in observations of this new phenomenon of sinuous discrete aurora.

The Double Moon high-tech projection was part of an extensive media campaign carried out by the UAE Government Media Office under the slogan “Arabs to Mars” to celebrate the Emirates Mars Mission, the Arab world’s first interplanetary exploration. The nationwide campaign saw a series of creative and ambitious activations including the Martian Ink passport stamps for visitors arriving in Dubai.

Unique global snapshots of discrete aurora of Mars are the first time such detailed and clear observations have been made globally, as well as across previously unobservable wavelengths. Implications for our understanding of Mars’ atmospheric and magnetospheric science are tremendous and provide new support to theory that solar storms are not necessary to drive Mars’ aurora,’ commented Hessa Al Matroushi.

Following a successful cruise to Mars, a near-perfect Mars Orbit Insertion manoeuvre and our transition from Hope’s capture orbit to our science orbit, we have completed our commissioning, calibration and testing phase. I am delighted to be able to report that the Mars Hope probe is perfectly positioned to commence its two-years science mission.

The journey is expected to last seven months, traveling a distance of 493 million km, before entering the Martian orbit in February 2021, coinciding with UAE's Golden Jubilee celebrations. The Hope Probe successfully lifted off at 01:58 am UAE time, after the countdown for the last 10 seconds was done in Arabic.

The launch is the culmination of efforts of a large team of young Emirati cadres, comprising 200 engineers, experts and researchers, who over the past six years have prepared for this moment and ensured that all scientific and logistical preparations to control the Probe mission were completed.

Russian, French and Indian space agencies applaud the UAE’s achievement […]

The UAE made history on Tuesday evening, Feb.9, as the first Arab nation, and the fifth in the world, to reach Mars after the Hope Probe successfully entered the Red Planet’s orbit on, at 7:42pm.

The Hope Probe is scheduled to enter Mars orbit on […]