A photo of Mars, taken by the United Arab Emirates-contracted surveillance probe Amal, from some 25,000 km above the planet, has been published by the government of the Arab state. The probe was launched last July.
The image of the red planet represents “a defining moment in our history and marks the UAE’s accession to advanced countries involved in space exploration,” Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the mighty Crown Prince of Emirati, said, commenting on the news. The photo was taken Wednesday, just after the robotic spacecraft reached Mars orbit.
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The UAE prides itself on being the first Arab country to send a scientific expedition to Mars, although it relies heavily on foreign expertise to do so. Amal, which means “Hope” in Arabic, was manufactured at the Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics in Colorado, involving Emirati engineers.
Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries delivered an H-IIA rocket for launch, which was from the Tanegashima Space Center. The probe is under the command of the mission control at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) in Dubai.
Amal’s scientific program involves the study of Mars’ atmosphere and how Earth’s cold neighbor is losing it. The orbiter is expected to remain operational for at least two years.
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