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Batteries charged, UAE's Hope probe to Mars set for launch

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Dubai - The probe will separate from the launch vehicle an hour after lift-off.

Published: Sun 12 Jul 2020, 12:00 AM

Updated: Mon 13 Jul 2020, 2:20 PM

  • By
  • Nandini Sircar

The ground control team of the UAE's Mars mission at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) on Sunday revealed that the Hope Probe will separate from the launch vehicle at 1.51am UAE time, an hour after its launch on July 15.

Following separation, the Hope Probe will be stabilised and solar panels will be deployed as a source of energy.
Hope positioned on rocket ahead of lift-off

This was explained during a virtual meeting by the Emirates Mars Mission Ground Control Team.

Final preparations are gathering pace ahead of the first Arab mission to the Red Planet on Wednesday, as battery charging has also been completed now. Explaining the early operations after the launch, one of the senior engineers today said, "We are going to launch at 00.51 UAE time. Separation is going to happen around 1:51 am, after one hour. An hour after that, the first signal is expected to happen around 2.51-2.54 am UAE time."
Arabic countdown for Mars mission to make history

He further said, "The engineering team and the flight separation team is going to prepare hours ahead of the launch, preparing for all software and ensuring they have connectivity with space networks. After we get our first signal, we will start our activity by ensuring that we have separated fully from the launch vehicle and then we will start looking at the solar panels. After that we will get into our early operations by focusing our activities for the next 30 days."



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