KATHMANDU: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched its first historic mission to Mars, BBC reported.
An H2-A rocket that took off from Tanegashima spaceport, Japan is now on a 500-million-km journey to study the planet’s weather and climate.
We have lift-off. H2A, the rocket carrying the Hope Probe to space, has launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan.#HopeMarsMission pic.twitter.com/pRKZLOL7NT
— Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 19, 2020
Two previous attempts to launch the probe in the past week had to be called off because of adverse weather.
Hope’s arrival in February 2021 is set to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the UAE’s formation.
The US and China both have surface rovers in the late stages of preparation.
The UAE has limited experience of designing and manufacturing spacecraft – and yet here it is attempting something only the US, Russia, Europe and India have succeeded in doing.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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