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28 March 2024

Dubai to Mars in 6 years [video]

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

The testing of spacecraft that will be used for the UAE mission to Mars will be carried out in Dubai, said Sarah Amiri, Deputy Project Manager & Science Lead, 'Have HOPE - Mission to Mars' at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre.

The location of the actual launch has not yet been determined but will not be in the UAE, was revealed earlier.

The UAE is currently preparing for its first unmanned mission to Mars - Have HOPE - to be carried out on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the country in 2021.

In order to land on Mars on this occasion, the spacecraft will have to take off in July, 2020, said Amiri while pointing out the tight timeline the team was given to accomplish the mission.

"What usually takes scientists years of preparation we will have to do in six years."

The mission is currently at the stage of preliminary design, which will be reviewed soon.

In 2016 a detailed design will be delivered to be critically reviewed by the end of the year.

The centre then has 3-4 years for the assembly and testing of the space craft, which will be carried out at the Mohammad bin Rashid Space Centre, clarified Amiri.

After take-off the spacecraft will travel 600 million kilometres, taking between 6-9 months to reach its destination.

The UAE mission to Mars is set be unique and make a significant contribution to the ongoing work of the space science community, and to human mankind.

The aim is to create the first truly global picture of the Martian atmosphere,  understanding climate dynamics, carrying out global weather mapping, linking layers and understanding atmosphere escape.

The location of the actual launch has not yet been determined but will not be in the UAE, she said.