Countdown begins for the journey of Hope – Saudi Gazette

  • Date: 21-Jul-2020
  • Source: Saudi Gazette
  • Sector:Defense
  • Country:Saudi Arabia
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Countdown begins for the journey of Hope – Saudi Gazette

DUBAI “” The rocket carrying the United Arab Emirates' Mars Mission 'Hope Probe' has arrived at the launch pad 13 hours ahead of its scheduled blast off into space, Dubai Media Office announced on Sunday.

"With just over 13 hours to go, the rocket carrying the #UAE's Hope Probe to Mars has arrived at the launch pad. Next, the launch vehicle will be connected to the launch pad facilities,“ the statement said.

The Arab world's first mission to Mars is set for launch in the early hours of Monday. Here are the particulars of this latest space venture from the nation that put its first astronaut into space just ten months ago.

The UAE's Hope Probe (Al Amal in Arabic) is the first Arab interplanetary mission. It is designed to orbit Mars and provide the first-ever complete picture of Martian atmosphere.

Hope Probe will begin its journey to Mars in the early hours of July 20 at exactly 1.58 a.m. (UAE time) from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) aboard Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' H-IIA rocket. This is the third rearrangement of the launch after cancellations due to rain on July 15 and July 17.

The date is within the so-called launch window that lasts for about