Final checks underway ahead of UAE Hope Probe mission to Mars on July 15

The United Arab Emirates is currently conducting final checks on its Mars Hope Probe ahead of its launch to Mars on July 15, the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) team announced.

The probe will launch on Wednesday, July 15, at exactly 00:51:27 UAE time from Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan.

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“The Probe has undergone a series of tests since its arrival at the Tanegashima Centre in April. These tests, which are done over a period of 50 working days, entail functional tests of the spacecraft subsystems that include electrical power, communication, altitude control, command and control, propulsion, thermal control and software systems,” the EMM said in a statement released by the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

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“The process also includes filling the fuel tank with about 800 kilograms of hydrogen fuel and ensuring that there are no leaks. It also requires moving the probe to the launch pad, installing the probe on the rocket, and ensuring the batteries are fully charged prior to liftoff,” the statement added.

The probe will be the first interplanetary exploration undertaken by an Arab nation. It is expected to enter Mars’ orbit in February 2021, coinciding with the country’s golden jubilee celebration that marks the historic union of the emirates.