Yesterday, the Arab space probe Hope, or Al Amal, correctly entered the planet Mars orbit. Launched on July 20, 2020, Hope kept its six engines burning for 27 minutes to slow down to the speed needed to enter orbit, an automated maneuver that required absolute precision to prevent the spacecraft from going over Mars or crashing to the Martian surface. The lights of the tallest skyscraper in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, were switched on to celebrate the success of the first Arab mission.

At the mission control center at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, after the confirmation of Hope’s insertion into orbit, the necessary detection begun to establish precisely the orbit’s characteristics. After that, it will be possible to proceed with some corrections to obtain the desired altitude and position to carry out the scientific mission. The infographic (Courtesy Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. All rights reserved) illustrates Hope’s journey.

It’s crucial that the Hope space probe is safely in orbit and the instruments are working in order to begin its mission. The chosen altitude, between 20,000 and 43,000 kilometers, is very high compared to that of the other Martian space probes with a very elliptical shape and will allow global observations of the red planet. Those observations will always include about half of Mars regardless of Hope’s location.

Another unique characteristic of the orbit chosen for the Hope space probe is that it’s close to the Martian equator while most of the space probes orbiting the red planet pass over its poles. This choice will allow it to observe the various areas of Mars at different times of the Martian day.

The confirmation of the Hope space probe’s insertion into orbit was greeted with understandable joy at the mission control center at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. For the Emirates, it’s a great success, also because most of the team members are under 35, including many women. This mission is also seen as a way to inspire the future of the Emirates and the ability to collaborate with the space agencies that made the history of Martian missions as well could have a remarkable effect.