UAE’s Red Planet mission to reach on Feb 9, followed by China’s on Feb 10 and the US on Feb 18.
The UAE’s Mars mission – Hope probe – will be the first among three spacecrafts to reach the Red Planet this month.
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The Hope probe, the first ever interplanetary mission launched by an Arab country, is scheduled to enter the orbit of the Red Planet at 7.42pm UAE time on Tuesday, February 9.
In addition to the UAE, China and the US also launched their projects to the Red Planet last year and are slated to land this month. China’s Tianwen-1 spacecraft will be the second to reach Mars – on February 10, while Nasa’s Perseverance is set to touch down on the Red Planet on February 18.
Previously, the US, India, erstwhile Soviet Union and the European Space Agency have successfully reached Mars.
The successful landing of the UAE’s Mars probe will make the UAE the fifth nation in the world to achieve this feat. The mission’s arrival also coincides with the UAE’s 50th anniversary of the union.
Landmarks across the UAE lit up in red, while #ArabstoMars has been trending on social media.
-waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com
