UAE Mars Mission: engineers will turn power on Hope spacecraft before launch to see if it’s ‘alive’ – The National
UAE Mars Mission: engineers will turn power on Hope spacecraft before launch to see if it’s ‘alive’ – The National
The critical process, called Aliveness test, will determine the health of the probe
The completed version of UAE's Hope spacecraft. Courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission team
July 3, 2020
July 3, 2020
With final launch preparations underway, a series of important tests will be carried out on UAE's Mars spacecraft, including switching on the probe's power button.
The 'aliveness test' is a process where the spacecraft is turned on to ensure the scientific instruments and the probe is working as it should.
It could be up to 30-minutes-long and is the first and last performance test run the spacecraft undergoes before lifting off.
The launch will take place from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre and is scheduled for July 15, 12.51am, UAE time.
"The final checks are important steps to ensure that all systems are functioning and meeting the requirements before the fuelling,“ said Suhail Al Dhafri, deputy project manager of the Emirates Mars Mission and spacecraft lead.
"Getting these parameters are vital prior to getting the probe ready for the lift off as per our launch window.“
The fuelling of