Hope Probe enters Mars orbit; UAE leaders offer congratulations at control room

Dubai - Here is how the day transpired as covered live by Khaleej Times.

The UAE has reached the furthest point in space in Arab history as the Hope Probe made its grand entry to the Red Planet today, February 9.

Listen to this story and more on 8@8 with David Light

The UAE leaders arrived at the Mars Mission command centre in Dubai to congratulate the team on the historic achievement.

Here is how the day transpired as covered live by Khaleej Times.

Stay tuned to Khaleej Times and our social media channels for live updates, videos, bytes and analyses.

Do check out our interactive that will help you explore the Red Planet.

9:10pm

'All thanks to Allah': How UAE announced Hope Probe success

Omran Sharaf, Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission, was at the ground control room in Dubai when the team received the first signal from the probe after Mars Orbit Insertion. The official managed to maintain his composure and announced the mission success professionally.

"To the people of the United Arab Emirates, to Arab and Muslim nations, we announce that the mission of the UAE to Mars has successfully entered the orbit of the Red Planet. All thanks to Allah, all thanks to Allah, all thanks to Allah," he says, to applause from the team. Read more

9pm

Live: Visuals from Burj Plaza after the success of MOI

8:36pm

Video: Moment UAE confirmed Hope Probe entered Mars orbit

8:27pm

Burj Khalifa lights up as Hope Probe reaches Mars

Photos by Shihab

8:25pm

Burj Khalifa beams with special message

Congratulations to all Arabs

Congratulations to UAE

Historic achievement

A great beginning to the next 50

Mission accomplished

8:20pm

Hope probe enters Mars orbit; UAE leaders at control room

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, are both at the control room of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre.

They have issued congratulatory messages as the Hope Probe entered its Mars orbit.

8:15pm

UAE Hope Probe reaches Mars

UAE has become the fifth country in the world and the first Arab one to reach Mars.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the mission success in a tweet.

"Mission Accomplished," he tweeted

8:12pm

Hope Probe success signal expected in under two minutes

8:09pm

Hope Probe success announcement at 8.15pm; blind minutes on

At 7.30pm, the Hope Probe started its Mars orbit insertion sequence. The complex process, the most critical part of the mission, will see the spacecraft rapidly reducing its speed from 121,000km/h to 18,000km/h to enter Mars’ orbit.

There is an 11-minute delay in communication between the probe and Earth. So when the orbit insertion happens, the world will come to know about it only by 8.15pm or so.

8:05pm

Healthy signals spur hope

Experts have reiterated that the Hope Probe is healthy and its signals are working fine. At the Burj Park in Dubai, hundreds of govt heads, university professors, researchers and media persons have gathered to witness the moment the probe enters its Martian orbit.

The atmosphere is tense, with a mix of prayers and optimism

7:54pm

Good news: System checks show solid signals

First check on Hope Probe by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre shows all signals and processes running smoothly for Mars Orbit Insertion sequence.

7:50pm

Hope Probe's 27 'blind' minutes to Mars begin; fuel burn confirmed

The command centre has confirmed that the fuel burn has begun.

The fuel burn will reduce the speed of the Hope Probe from over 121,000 km/h to approximately 18,000 km/h.

7:45pm

Hope Probe's 27 'blind' minutes to Mars begin

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, has said that the Hope Probe's 27 blind minutes have started. This is the most crucial point in the mission.

The Mars Orbit Insertion stage is called half an hour of terror! As Hope reaches close to the Martian orbit, a special manoeuvre will be performed to decrease its speed, enough for the planet’s gravity to capture the spacecraft into orbit. For orbit insertion, six Delta V thrusters will autonomously perform an action to fire the thrusters for 27 minutes to slow down the speed of the probe from more than 100,000 kilometres per hour down to 18,000kmph.

One of the difficulties is that the scientists will have no control — as because of the distance between Earth and Mars, any command sent to the spacecraft takes 11 minutes each way. Hence, all steps are pre-programmed. Also, contact will be temporarily lost as Hope travels behind Mars, creating a blackout period with no communication for a short time.

7:41pm

Join our expert panel as we count down to the moment when the historic Emirates Mars Mission enters the Martian orbit at 7.42pm UAE time in less than hour's time.

7:40pm

When exactly will UAE Hope Probe reach Mars?

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, has explained the 4 scenarios the Hope Probe faces as it starts its Mars’ orbit insertion sequence. She said the success of the entire mission comes down to 27 minutes for the probe to complete this phase.

First scenario

At 7.30pm, we'll start Mars Insertion Orbit. This includes 27 minutes burn, reducing speed to 18,000km/hr. Ground control at Khawaneej will inform us of start of the phase

At 8.15pm, we expect the announcement of arrival.

Second scenario: Loss of contact

No communication reaches us from Hope Probe. This can take 15 minutes or even two hours. We will inform you in the event of that delay.

Third scenario

Spacecraft has 6 thrusters. we can work with 4, but sequence will take over 40 minutes instead of 27.

Fourth scenario: We hope never to reach this. This is failure to enter and orbit around Mars.

7:36pm

With less than 10 minutes to go before the UAE's HopeProbe enters its Martian orbit, the BurjKhalifa lights up with a special laser show to mark the UAE's entry to Mars at 7.42pm tonight.

Photo by Shihab

7:35pm

UAE minister's message of hope with Hope Probe minutes away from Mars

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, is addressing an event at the Burj Park with minutes left for the Hope Probe to enter its Mars orbit.

"Space was a sector that we never dared to dream, growing up. This is my story and the story of 200 other people working on this mission. But it's the story of the transformation of an entire nation. In 1971, humanity landed the first object on Mars. It is with this mindset of growth, unity, that has spurred the mission to reach this point today. There have been 450 souls working collaboratively on this mission to ensure mission arrives on time to destination. For us this mission is about the next 50 years, deeply rooted in science, creativity and innovation."

7:25pm

UAE residents wait with bated breath

With the Hope Probe less than an hour away from its final destinations, residents across the UAE are waiting with bated breath for the UAE to make history.

Taking to Twitter to share their excitement, many are wishing the Hope Probe ‘Best of Luck’ as it nears the final leg of its 481 km-long journey. The hashtag #ArabstoMars continues to trend on the social media platform, with residents sharing messages of nervous anticipation.

7:20pm

"I wish that you conquer space!," Pakistani minister message as Probe’s critical phase approaches

A Cabinet minister of Pakistan has wished the UAE "to conquer the space," as the Hope Probe’s Mars orbit insertion attempt is expected to determine the success of the mission Tuesday evening. Read more

7:22pm

Watch: Adnoc building lights up in red

Video: Ryan Lim

The Adnoc building in Abu Dhabi Corniche lit up in support for the Emirates Mars Mission.

7:20pm

Burj Khalifa shines with Hope Probe tribute

7:15pm

Just 30 minutes to go for UAE Hope Probe to reach Mars

The UAE's Hope Probe is preparing to enter its Mars orbit. According to its live tracker, it's some 5,000km away from its destination. Less than 30 minutes to go!

7pm

Watch: Special Burj Khalifa show with Hope Probe minutes away from Mars

- Photos & Videos by Juidin Bernarrd

6:55pm

Live: Capturing the momentum from Mohamed bin Rashid boulevard ahead of MOI

6:59pm

UAE's Hope Probe prepares to enter Mars orbit; minutes left

The UAE's Hope Probe is preparing to enter Mars orbit. According to its live tracker, it's some 8,000km away from its destination.

6:55pm

Special Burj Khalifa show to mark Hope Probe entry to Mars

The Burj Park in the shadow of the Burj Khalifa is THE place to be, with less than an hour left before the UAE's Hope Probe enters its Martian orbit.

A special laser show will mark the UAE's entry to Mars at 7.42pm tonight. The show will trace the journey of the Hope Probe from ideation until now.

Strict social distancing norms are in place as people assemble at the venue to watch the live broadcast. Special screens have been set up at the Burj Park for this.

6:38pm

Burj Khalifa to light up as Hope Probe reaches Mars

- Photos & Videos by Juidin Bernarrd

The Burj Park in the shadow of the Burj Khalifa is THE place to be, with less than an hour left before the UAE's Hope Probe enters its Martian orbit.

Strict social distancing norms are in place as people assemble at the venue to watch the live broadcast of the Hope Probe's arrival to Mars. Special screens have been set up at the Burj Park for the live broadcast.

6:30pm

UAE's Hope Probe just 1 hour away from Mars

The UAE's Hope Probe is just one hour and some 29,000km away from Mars. It's cruising towards its destination at a speed of 77,000kmph. It will need to slow down to 18,000kmph to get captured into the Martian orbit.

It has already covered a distance of over 481-million-km.

6pm

'First in 50 years and first among the 56 Arab nations'

By Saman Haziq

"The UAE’s Hope Probe is at an extraordinary stage bringing success and optimism to the entire Arab and Islamic world. The feat represents a scientific achievement of great value to the world, thanks to the wise leadership of the UAE who provided the nation with a wide horizon of ambition and possibilities to enable them to think outside the traditional norms," said Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development.

"This has helped achieve the UAE become a beacon of hope for millions of Arabs across the 56 Arab and Islamic countries (being the first Arab country to reach Mars orbit) and also mark its 50th year (since the union in 1971) with flying colours telling the world ‘noting is impossible," she said.

"We have learned from the UAE wise leadership that the future is for those who make it, the race of excellence is long and the competitors are many but winning the first position requires that we do not look back. Our goal is to be number one,” she added

5:55pm

Hope Probe to help experts create Mars environment on Earth

The new data from the Hope Probe will help scientists not only understand planetary mysteries, but support future missions, according to Abu Dhabi-based researcher scientists and experts.

Dimitra Atri, a research scientist at the Centre for Space Science at the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), said the data from the Hope Probe would complement the university’s ongoing research with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Red Planet missions. Read more

5:50pm

UAE's Hope Probe just two hours away from Mars

Just under two hours are left before the UAE's Hope Probe reaches Mars. To put that in context, it takes about that much time to drive from Dubai to Al Ain!

5:45pm

Video: What happens after UAE's Hope Probe reaches Mars

After successfully completing Mars Orbit Insertion, the Hope Probe will enter its capture orbit. Here is what happens next:

5:25pm

UAE football calls Hope Probe a source of pride and inspiration

As the UAE’s Hope Probe makes its foray to Mars, the country’s football community has hailed the mission as a source of pride and inspiration.

Abu Dhabi, Dubai landmarks go red