UAE Hope Probe, SpaceX: World’s space achievements in 2020

UAE Hope Probe, SpaceX: World’s space achievements in 2020

The UAE was one of three countries that sent spacecraft hurtling toward Mars, astronauts blasted into orbit from the US for the first time in nearly a decade, and robotic explorers grabbed rocks from the moon and gravel from an asteroid for return to Earth.

Space provided moments of hope and glory in an otherwise difficult, stressful year.

It promises to do the same in 2021, with February's landings at Mars and next fall's planned launch of the Hubble Space Telescope's successor — the next-generation James Webb Space Telescope.

Meanwhile, Boeing hopes to catch up with SpaceX in the astronaut-launching department, while space tourism may finally get off the ground.

“2021 promises to be as much of a space exploration bright spot, perhaps even more,” said Scott Hubbard, NASA's former “Mars Czar” now teaching at Stanford University.

Although the coronavirus pandemic complicated space operations around the globe in 2020, most high-priority missions remained on track, led by the UAE, China and the US in a stampede to Mars in July.

The Hope probe, UAE's first interplanetary spacecraft, an orbiter, will scrutinise the Martian atmosphere. NASA's Perseverance rover is set to land February 18 at