Japan rocket carrying UAE Mars probe ready for Monday launch

Japan rocket carrying UAE Mars probe ready for Monday launch

Japan rocket carrying UAE Mars probe ready for Monday launch

Japan rocket carrying UAE Mars probe ready for Monday launch

Japan rocket carrying UAE Mars probe ready for Monday launch

This file rendering provided by Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre shows the Hope probe. (File/AFP)

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Japan rocket carrying UAE Mars probe ready for Monday launch

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced that the launch would proceed at 6:58 a.m. Monday (2158 GMT Sunday)

A newcomer in space development, the UAE has so far successfully launched three observation satellites

Updated 19 July 2020

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TOKYO: A Japanese H-IIA rocket carrying a United Arab Emirates Mars spacecraft has been placed on the launch pad for Monday's scheduled liftoff for the Arab world's first interplanetary mission, officials said Sunday.

The launch of the orbiter “” named Amal, or Hope “” from Tanegashima Space Center on a small southern Japanese island was initially scheduled for this past Wednesday, but was delayed due to bad weather in the region.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the provider of the H-IIA rocket, announced Sunday that the launch would proceed at 6:58 a.m. Monday (2158 GMT Sunday). The preparation has been completed, and the rocket is now on the launch pad, Mitsubishi said.

Hope is expected to reach Mars in February 2021,