The UAE’s mission (Hope Probe) to Mars is moving on to its next phase of gathering vital data. Which could help scientists study its atmosphere and dynamic weather conditions.
The Hope probe, which started orbiting Mars on February 9, had its instruments activated on April 10. With thousands of scientific images already sent back.
The orbiter will now collect extensive data for two years. It will measure gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon monoxide that surround the planet.
The data will help scientists understand why and how Mars lost its atmosphere and can no longer do so.
“Following a successful cruise to Mars, a near-perfect Mars orbit insertion maneuver, and our transition from Hope’s capture orbit to our science orbit, we have completed our commissioning, calibration, and testing phase,” said project director Omran Sharaf.
Hope Probe was able to capture the phenomenon because of its strategic orbit around Mars. No other mission has achieved before.
Also, read about UAE’s first mission.
It is circling the planet at an elliptical orbit of 20,000 kilometers by 43,000km, an equator-like orbit that allows it to reach a higher altitude than any other spacecraft and study the planet at intervals throughout the day.
The ultraviolet spectrometer has sent 14,000 spectral-spatial images of the atmosphere.
Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency said it is capable of collecting “a lot of new data”.
Until today the science instruments have collected numerous images which have been used to test their performance and readiness. This composite image highlights the type of data that EXI will be routinely collecting now that the science phase of EMM’s mission has started. pic.twitter.com/2fF2Qwg9gq
— Sarah Al Amiri (@SarahAmiri1) May 23, 2021
Currently a student of Economics and Data Science, ITU Lahore.