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The mission is targeted to arrive at Mars in 2021 as the UAE celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence from Britain.
Robert Pearlman
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries release
MHI Receives New Order for H-IIA Launch Services for UAE Emirates Mars Mission
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received an order for H-IIA launch services from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for launch of the Emirates Mars Mission's (EMM) Hope spacecraft.
In order to better understand the Martian atmosphere and climate, Hope is expected to be launched in the summer of 2020 on MHI's H-IIA launch vehicle, and is set to arrive at Mars in 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE. This order for the EMM marks MHI's fourth overseas contract for its launch services.
The UAE Space Agency (UAESA) takes administrative and financial responsibility for the EMM, and MBRSC is responsible for leading the design and development of Hope, as well as the execution of all phases of EMM, which includes technical coordination with the H-IIA launch vehicle.
The previous three orders received by MHI from overseas customers involved the 2012 launch of the Korea Multipurpose Satellite-3 (KOMPSAT-3) for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the 2015 launch of the TELSTAR 12 VANTAGE communications and broadcasting satellite for Telesat Canada, and launch of the KhalifaSat for MBRSC, planned in 2018.
MBRSC, or the former Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), was newly established by the Dubai Government in 2006. The Space Centre is working to develop the science and technology sectors in the region, which include research and development in satellite manufacturing and systems development, and Earth observation through satellite images.
The H-IIA rocket is the most current and reliable launcher in Japan. MHI believes the H-IIA has a strong advantage with its high success rate of 96.7 percent (29 successful launches among 30 flights). It also has a brilliant on-time launch history in past flights, to customers' great satisfaction.
MHI has been playing an important role in Japan's development of space launch vehicles since a national program was started in Japan in 1975. Following technology transfer from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), MHI has been placed in charge of all aspects from manufacturing to launching satellites from the H-IIA No.13 (launched in September 2007) and the H-IIB No.4 (launched in August 2013).
With this partnership with the UAE to launch the EMM's Hope spacecraft, MHI pledges to make full-fledged efforts so as not only to enhance the space industry in Japan, but also to make various contributions to the UAE's endeavors in space-related activities.
Robert Pearlman
Emirates News Agency release
Hope probe is ready for long journey to Mars
As the countdown starts for the launch of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) first mission to Mars, from the Tanegashima Island in Japan, the Hope probe is now ready for its 7-month long journey to the Red Planet, according to Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, MBRSC.
The Emirates Mars Mission, EMM, is designed to orbit Mars and study the dynamics in the Martian atmosphere on a global scale, and on both diurnal and seasonal timescales. Using three scientific instruments on board of the spacecraft, EMM will provide a set of measurements fundamental to an improved understanding of circulation and weather in the Martian lower and middle atmosphere.
Combining such data with the monitoring of the upper layers of the atmosphere, EMM measurements will reveal the mechanisms behind the upward transport of energy and particles, and the subsequent escape of atmospheric particles from the gravity of Mars.
Launch of EMM will begin its journey to Mars from the Tanegashima Island in Japan. On the launch day, 15 July [4:51 p.m. EDT July 14], the Hope probe will take off on a Mitsubishi H-IIA rocket toward the east, on a trajectory that takes it over the Pacific Ocean.
Robert Pearlman
The launch has been postponed two days due to weather. The new launch attempt is Thursday, July 16 at 4:43 p.m. EDT. UAE Space Agency update (via Twitter):
The UAE Space Agency and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, have announced a delay of the Emirates Mars Mission's Hope Probe launch due to the weather conditions at the launch site of Tanegashima Island in Japan.
The UAE's space mission, the Arab world's first interplanetary mission, will launch on Friday July 17, 2020 at 12:43 a.m. UAE time (July 16, 2020 at 8:43 p.m. GMT) from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.
Robert Pearlman
The launch has been further delayed.
It was decided to postpone the launch of the Hope Probe, the first Arab mission to explore Mars, from the date of July 17, 2020 to a new date in the month of July, and the new date will be announced within the next 24 hours.
Update: The launch is now expected between July 19 and July 21 (EDT):
The UAE Space Agency and The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre have announced that due to continued thunderstorms, clouds and unstable weather conditions in the coming days on Tanegashima Island, the launch site for the Emirates Mars Mission’ Hope Probe, the launch is now scheduled to take place between the 20th and 22nd July 2020, depending on improved weather. The precise time of the launch will be confirmed in due course.
Robert Pearlman
The new target launch time is 5:58 p.m. EDT (2158 GMT) on Sunday (July 19):
The UAE Space Agency and The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre have announced updated launch date and time for UAE Mars Mission on July 20th, 2020 at 01:58 am UAE local time. Any further delay, caused by weather conditions at the launch site in Japan's Tanegashima Island, will be communicated in due course.
Robert Pearlman
The Hope probe is ready to launch at 5:58 p.m. EDT (2158 GMT) today:
The fueling of the H2A launch vehicle is complete.
The launch of a new interplanetary probe carries with it the "Hope" of a young nation that is poised to make history while studying the global atmosphere of Mars.
The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) "Hope" ("Amal" in Arabic) spacecraft lifted off on a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' H-IIA rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on Saturday (July 19). If all proceeds to plan, the robotic probe will enter Mars orbit in early February 2021, coinciding with the 50th anniversary celebration of the UAE becoming an independent country.
The 5:58 p.m. EDT launch (2158 GMT or 6:43 a.m. local time on July 20) marked the beginning of the $200 million Emirates Mars Mission, the UAE's first space project to reach beyond Earth orbit and first Arab-led mission to another planet.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) successfully put a probe into orbit around Mars, becoming only the fifth entity in history to accomplish the interplanetary feat.
The UAE's "Hope" ("Al-Amal" in Arabic) spacecraft arrived at the Red Planet on Tuesday (Feb. 9), after a seven-month, 307-million-mile (494-million-kilometer) journey. The $200 million Emirates Mars Mission is the UAE's first space project to reach beyond Earth orbit and is the first Arab-led mission to another planet.
"Success! Contact with Hope has been established again. The Mars orbit insertion is now complete," the mission team announced on Twitter.
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