UAE official explains why Mars probe launch was delayed by 48 hours

Missions to Mars have very specific launch windows unlike other space missions like satellite launches, a top official has explained. "For Mars missions, we launch when the Earth is closest to Mars," said Omran Sharaf, project director of the Emirates Mars Mission.
This came as the official addressed a virtual media briefing on Tuesday to explain why the UAE's Hope probe launch was delayed by 48 hours. It is now scheduled to take off on July 17 at 12.43am UAE time from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. The probe's launch window extends until August 3, 2020.
Safety first
Weather conditions play a central role in ensuring a safe rocket launch to space due to its impact on the upper atmosphere.
Even though weather is monitored, the viability for a liftoff changes from day to day.
"During Monday's meeting, everything seemed fine. However, today (Tuesday) morning when we had our meeting with the teams and MHI (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries), the weather had changed significantly and it didn't meet the criteria for a launch," the official explained. "We didn't want to take the risk and lose the work of the past six years. It's not just about the spacecraft but also about the path that the rocket goes through."
Contingency plans
Every time there is a shift in the launch date, the whole planning process undergoes an overhaul. "The launch and separation timings change and the time for receiving the first signal changes. So operationally, a lot of things need to be updated," Sharaf explained.
He said the team has contingency plans for every scenario. "These plans were put in place in case something happens. Now that we have a launch delay, we will execute these plans. This includes reassessing the separation time, deployment of solar panels when it happens, etc. We continue monitoring the status of the spacecraft and making sure it is in good condition."
Due to the launch delay, the team will make sure that the batteries of the probe are charged and that the sterile environment around it is maintained. "The team will be busy with all that. We will also be busy with our daily meetings."
The first planetary science mission from the UAE and the Arab world is scheduled to go into its Martian orbit in February 2021 - the year that will mark 50 years of the UAE's union. For the first time in history, a countdown in Arabic will herald a space launch when the Hope probe takes off.
The probe aims to give mankind a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere. Data collected will be shared with over 200 research centres across the world.
nandini@khaleejtimes.com