A United Arab Emirates’ Mars orbiter is set for liftoff on 20 July, 2020.
The launch was initially decided to be on 15 July, 2020 from the Tanegashima Space Center, Japan.
It was delayed due to bad weather at the launch site in southern Japan.
The orbit is named Amal, or Hope. It is the Arab’s world’s first interplanetary mission.
If the mission is successful, it is likely to put UAE on the map of the space industry.
The orbit is expected to land on Mars in February 2021 as UAE will celebrate 50 years of its formation.
It will carry three instruments that aim to study and monitor the atmosphere and climate conditions of Mars. It is scheduled to circle around Mars and will provide a whole view of its atmosphere during different periods of time.
“I’m looking forward to a successful launch,” Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said. He said the scheduled launch of a Japanese rocket carrying UAE’s Hope probe “is a symbol of our firm relations between Japan and UAE.”
Japan and UAE are known to maintain friendly ties and it is has only increased the past few years when Japan went one step higher in trade and defense relationships with UAE. Now, they wish to expand into the space industry.
Two other Mars missions are planned in coming days by the U.S. and China.
Japan has its own Martian moon mission planned in 2024.
Source: AFP