The Emirates Mars Mission in February 2021 became the first interplanetary space probe from an Arab nation to reach Mars. Scientists in the United Arab Emirates and their partners at the University of Colorado have been delighted in the mission’s success so far.
Since going into orbit, the mission’s Hope satellite has begun collecting data in an open-access repository that anyone can sign up to use.
The mission has also designed a research programme that Emirati undergraduates in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) can apply to join. Accepted students will be mentored by Emirati and international scientists who will help them design and conduct Mars-related research projects.
The satellite will orbit the red planet for over two years as it investigates the intriguing Martian weather. The data may help us discover more about the loss of Mar’s past atmosphere. That in turn may shed light on whether there was once life on Mars, one of the most widely debated issues in space science.
Setting Its Sights on Mars
The driving force behind the Mars mission was to inspire young Emiratis to consider astrophysics and other scientific fields as a career.