July 2020 was an exciting time for space exploration, especially with several missions heading to Mars. One standout mission is the Emirates Mars Mission, which is making history in many ways. Timing is crucial for this mission because the team has a specific launch window. If they miss it, they’ll have to wait until 2022 to try again. Once the mission reaches Mars, it could give us the best understanding yet of the Martian atmosphere. This is the first deep space mission for the team, and it’s quite challenging due to factors like fuel needs and communication delays.
The Emirates Mars Mission is the first interplanetary mission for the Arab world. This is impressive, especially since the country’s national space program only started in 2006. To make this mission possible, the team worked with several U.S. institutions, including the University of Colorado, Boulder, and UC Berkeley. The mission’s goal is not just to reach Mars but also to learn more about its atmosphere through three main objectives:
The Martian atmosphere is still a bit of a mystery, but the UAE’s probe, named Hope, aims to change that. It will collect data day and night for one Martian year, which is about two Earth years. Unlike previous missions that focused on specific points, Hope will provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere throughout the day. Its unique orbit ranges from 20,000 km to 43,000 km above Mars, taking about 55 hours to complete one loop.
The Hope probe is equipped with three main instruments:
The Emirates Mars Mission team faced many challenges, such as a tight launch window and the global pandemic. Despite these obstacles, they succeeded. Typically, Mars missions take at least 10 years to develop, but this team did it in just six years. They had to be flexible and meet every milestone to ensure they didn’t miss their launch date, which was set before December 2021.
The December 2021 deadline was crucial because the government wanted the probe to reach Mars in time for the UAE’s 50th anniversary. After six years of hard work, the launch was imminent. The Hope probe launched from Japan on a Mitsubishi H-2A rocket and took seven months to reach Mars. Once there, it checked its instruments before starting its orbit to gather data for a full Martian year.
The team is excited about the results. The first image of Mars will be a big moment, marking their achievement. After that, they will analyze the data, which will be shared freely with anyone interested. The mission aims to inspire hope for the new generation, not just in the UAE but throughout the region.
If you’re curious about other missions heading to Mars, check out the episode on NASA’s Perseverance rover. If there’s another mission you’d like to learn about, let us know in the comments below. Don’t forget to subscribe, and thank you for reading!
Research the key events of the Emirates Mars Mission and create a timeline. Include the mission’s launch, arrival at Mars, and major milestones. Use images and descriptions to make your timeline visually appealing and informative.
Using the information from the article, design an infographic that explains the Martian atmosphere. Highlight the mission’s objectives and the instruments on the Hope probe. Make sure your infographic is clear and easy to understand.
Using a simple physics simulation tool or software, create a model of the Hope probe’s orbit around Mars. Experiment with different orbital paths and observe how they affect data collection. Share your findings with the class.
Imagine you are a scientist on the Emirates Mars Mission team. Write a series of journal entries describing your experiences and challenges during the mission. Include details about the launch, the journey to Mars, and the data collection process.
Participate in a class debate about the importance of space exploration. Use the Emirates Mars Mission as a case study to support your arguments. Discuss the benefits and challenges of investing in space missions.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
July 2020 is a busy month for Mars missions. It seems like many are heading to the red planet! One of these missions is the Emirates Mars Mission, which will be making history in several ways. Time is crucial, as the team has a limited launch window. If they miss it, they will have to wait until 2022. However, once it arrives, the mission could provide us with the most comprehensive understanding of the Martian atmosphere to date. This is the first time we are undertaking a deep space mission, and the complexities involved—such as the fuel requirements and communication delays—make it quite challenging.
The Emirates Mars Mission will be the first interplanetary mission for the Arab world, which is impressive considering that the country’s national space program only began in 2006. To get the project off the ground, the team collaborated with several U.S. institutions, including the University of Colorado, Boulder, and UC Berkeley. While reaching Mars is a significant achievement, the team also aims to better understand the Martian atmosphere with three main objectives in mind:
1. Characterize the Martian lower atmosphere to understand its climate and seasonal changes.
2. Study the exosphere of Mars, focusing on the escape of hydrogen and oxygen.
3. Establish the connection between the lower atmosphere and the exosphere.
The Martian atmosphere remains somewhat of a mystery, but the UAE’s probe, Hope, aims to shed light on it. Recording data day and night for one Martian year (approximately two Earth years), Hope will provide an unprecedented view of the Martian atmosphere. Previous missions typically focused on specific points at set times, but Hope will capture a comprehensive picture throughout the entire Martian day. Its unique elliptical orbit ranges from about 20,000 km to 43,000 km from the Martian surface, taking roughly 55 hours to complete.
The car-sized probe will be equipped with three instruments:
– The Emirates Mars InfraRed Spectrometer, which captures data on the lower atmosphere, including ice clouds, dust, temperature, and water vapor.
– The Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer, which will study levels of carbon monoxide and oxygen in the thermosphere, as well as gather data on oxygen and hydrogen in the exosphere.
– The Emirates eXploration Imager, which will capture high-resolution images of Mars and analyze the lower atmosphere, including ozone levels.
The Emirates Mars Mission team faced unique challenges, including a limited launch window and the impact of the global pandemic. Despite these hurdles, they persevered. Typically, Mars missions take a minimum of 10 years to develop, but this team accomplished it in just six years. They had to adapt their project management strategies to meet every milestone and ensure they did not miss their launch date, which was set to be before December 2021.
The reason for the December 2021 deadline is that the government established a non-negotiable timeline for the probe to reach Mars in time for the UAE’s 50th anniversary. The pressure is on, and after six years of hard work, the launch is imminent. The Hope probe will launch from Japan aboard a Mitsubishi H-2A rocket, taking seven months to reach Mars. Once there, it will check the functionality of its instruments before beginning its wider elliptical orbit to gather data for one full Martian year.
The team is eager for the results. The first image of Mars will be a significant moment for the team, marking their achievement. Following that, they look forward to analyzing the data, which will be freely shared with anyone interested. The mission aims to inspire hope for the new generation, not just within the UAE but throughout the region.
**Call to Action:** To learn more about another mission heading to Mars, check out this episode on NASA’s Perseverance rover. If there’s another mission you’d like us to cover, let us know in the comments below. Make sure to subscribe, and thank you for watching!
Mars – The fourth planet from the Sun in our solar system, known for its reddish appearance due to iron oxide on its surface. – Scientists are eager to explore Mars to understand if it ever supported life.
Atmosphere – The layer of gases surrounding a planet or celestial body. – Earth’s atmosphere is crucial for sustaining life by providing oxygen and protecting us from harmful solar radiation.
Mission – A specific task or operation undertaken by a spacecraft or team to achieve scientific objectives in space exploration. – The Mars Rover mission aims to collect soil samples to search for signs of past life.
Probe – An unmanned spacecraft designed to collect data about space or celestial bodies. – The Voyager probes have provided valuable information about the outer planets and are now traveling beyond our solar system.
Hope – A feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen, often used in the context of scientific discoveries and advancements. – There is hope that future missions to Mars will uncover evidence of ancient microbial life.
Climate – The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular area or on a planet. – Understanding the climate of Mars helps scientists determine if the planet could have supported life in the past.
Exosphere – The outermost layer of a planet’s atmosphere, where atmospheric particles can escape into space. – The exosphere of Earth gradually transitions into the vacuum of space.
Hydrogen – The lightest and most abundant chemical element in the universe, often found in stars and gas giants. – Hydrogen is a key component of the Sun, where it undergoes nuclear fusion to produce energy.
Oxygen – A chemical element essential for life on Earth, making up about 21% of our atmosphere. – The presence of oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere is a key factor that supports diverse life forms.
Challenges – Difficulties or obstacles that need to be overcome, often encountered in scientific research and space exploration. – One of the major challenges in sending humans to Mars is ensuring their safety during the long journey.
