Dubai - Not even a scare due to the Covid-19 pandemic has thwarted the team, who are preparing for lift-off from Japan on July 15.
Published: Tue 7 Jul 2020, 2:15 AM
Updated: Sun 12 Jul 2020, 7:02 PM
As the countdown begins to the launch of the 'Hope Probe' from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan on July 15, the young Emirati team behind the mission is working round the clock to prepare for the historic mission.
The team are continuing monitoring, tests and final checks to prepare the Probe for launch, capping six years of scientific and logistical efforts to complete the Emirates Mars Mission.
So far, they have overcome all obstacles they have been faced with, including a scare due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On schedule
While the launch date has been set for July 15, the launch window for the Hope Probe runs until August 3, after accurate scientific calculations of the Earth and Mars orbits. This is to facilitate the successful arrival of the Probe in the Mars orbit in the shortest possible timeframe and with the lowest energy consumption.
Since the arrival of the Probe at the launch station in Japan, the UAE team has continued to test all the spacecraft's functions, including communication, software, navigation, remote control and driving systems, as well as power and probe propulsion systems.
Covid-19 impact
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the quarantine and health regulations in place, the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) team working on the Mission is divided into three sub-teams - considering the challenges on transportation, travel, logistics and adhering to health procedures. While the first set of team members reached Japan on April 6 and underwent mandatory quarantine and health checks, the second team arrived on April 21. The third team is still in the UAE, offering the necessary back-up support to the Mission.
Team members
The UAE team, currently stationed at the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan, is led by Eng. Suhail Buti Al Dhafri Al Muheiri, EMM Deputy Project Manager and Spacecraft Lead at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. The other team members include Ahmad Al Yamahi, Mahmoud Al Awadi and Mohammed Al Ameri, who are mechanical systems engineers and responsible for mounting the Probe on to the launch vehicle.
The team also includes Issa Al Muheiri, who is responsible for charging the probe batteries and spacecraft monitoring, and Youssef Al Shehhi, responsible for closing the multi-layer insulation of the fuel tank, MLI, and the Arming Plugs.
Omar Al Shehhi, who is the Head of Assembly & Integration Unit, is responsible for the Aliveness Test & spacecraft monitoring, with Khalifa Al Muhairi, who is responsible for monitoring and ensuring the safety of the probe.
Integrated team
Talking about the mission, Eng. Suhail Al Muheiri said: "We are an integrated team of engineers within the inspection, integration and systems engineering team. As the deputy project manager, it is my responsibility to ensure that the launch vehicle is ready and all communications systems with the ground control are in place. We are working on the project with a unified team spirit and unlimited ambition and passion.
"The Hope Probe is testimony to the capabilities of the UAE and the Arab world to accomplish mega projects and important scientific missions."
Suhail joined MBRSC soon after its foundation as the Emirates Institute for Advanced Sciences in 2006 as a Research Engineer in the Space System Development Department, working on the development of Payload Electronics of DubaiSat-1 and going on to become a Payload System and Electronics Design Engineer.
In 2013, he became the Space System Section Head, managing four engineering units: system engineering; mechanical manufacture; assembly and integration and electronics manufacture. These teams worked on the development of KhalifaSat.
In 2014, he became EMM Deputy Project Manager and Spacecraft Lead, responsible for the spacecraft technical design and development as well as engineering teams.
He obtained his bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the American University of Sharjah in 2006 and his master's in aerospace engineering (space systems) from the University of Daejeon in South Korea in 2013.
Multitasking
Mohamed Al Ameri, Senior Space Mechanical Systems engineer in the Space Mission Department at the UAE Space Agency, said that the eight-member Emirati team in Japan bring together multiple engineering disciplines and a multitude of skills. He said: "We meet every morning and share tasks according to a schedule. Each of us works on a set of tasks according to the diversity of responsibilities approach that we have trained on and which qualified us to deal with a wide range of tasks in different disciplines. "
He added: "After we received the probe from the Nagoya Station and then transferred it by sea to the Tanegashima Space Center, where we reached the island after about 44 hours, we started the basic inspection procedures to ensure the safety of the satellite. Each member of the team performed his duties to achieve this historic mission which today constitutes the center of hope for hundreds of millions of people across 56 Arab and Islamic countries."
Eng. Al Ameri's main responsibilities range from the design of spacecraft components structure to withstand the space environment with a focus on strength, stiffness, thermal stability, and manufacturability requirements. Eng. Al Ameri is also the Spacecraft lead for the Arab Cooperation Satellite 813 (Hyperspectral Satellite). Al Ameri has a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah in the US, in mechanical engineering.
Eng. Al Ameri's main responsibilities range from the design of spacecraft components structure to withstand the space environment with a focus on strength, stiffness, thermal stability, and manufacturability requirements. Eng. Al Ameri is also the Spacecraft lead for the Arab Cooperation Satellite 813 (Hyperspectral Satellite). Al Ameri has a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah in the US, in mechanical engineering.
Testing Engineer, Omar Al-Shehhi from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, said: "From the outset of the project, we began working on the designs of electrical and mechanical ground equipment, starting with planning tests on the satellite, and the environments that the Probe faces at different stages, such as the vibrations resulting from the launch environment, high and low thermal environment in space, and the assembly and installation of the probe in coordination with different teams.
He added: "After receiving the Probe in Japan, the first thing we prepared was the ground-testing equipment to ensure that it was not affected as a result of the shipping process. We continue to test the ground control to ensure that the Probe can communicate with the station and exchange data and coordinates, especially as the project plans to share the information to more than 200 scientific institutions and research centres."
Omar heads the assembly and integration unit at MBRSC, planning, evolving and conducting test procedures and plans for complex systems in spacecraft development. He previously worked as an avionics engineer with Emirates airline, and he holds a bachelor's degree in engineering management from Dubai Men's College, and a master's degree in engineering management from Abu Dhabi University.
Read: Weather expected to clear up before Hope Probe's lift-off
Renewable energy
For his part, Engineer Issa Hareb Al Muheiri, Energy Systems Engineer, said: "My responsibilities include installing the solar panels that collect renewable and solar energy and powers the batteries. We test those panels and batteries and make sure they comply to the design and multiple tasks of the mission till it reaches Mars' orbit."
He added: "The challenge lies in storing the solar energy when the Probe reaches and starts orbiting the Red Planet when the sun disappears at certain times. The importance of these batteries becomes vital then. I will also be tasked with ensuring that all the Probe's batteries are fully charged before the launch date."
Protection engineer
Ahmad Obaid Al Yammahi, Assembly and Mechanical Systems Engineer, said: "I provided support to the team during the shipping operation of the satellite. I was with the team at the Nagoya Airport in Japan to receive and transport the satellite and surround it with nitrogen gas to protect its stability and systems. Unlike many satellites orbiting in Earth, the Probe will use propellant fuel due to its long journey.
"I have utilised my installation and mechanical assembly experience that I gained from my previous work on the KhalifaSat project to support my colleagues today in the Hope Probe team and ensure best preparations."
Design Mahmoud Al Awadi, Mechanical Systems Engineer, said: "I worked with the team to design a probe structure that meets all the requirements and visions of all departments scientifically and practically. We then started installation and assembly and moved to tests to ensure the safety of the probe and its scientific equipment.
"I also work as a propulsion system engineer to provide the probe with fuel in Japan. We ran many tests to ensure the safety and readiness of the fuel tank and make sure that there are no leaks in the propulsion systems network since we use hydrazine as a fuel for the probe, which is a very sensitive material."
Insulation
Youssef Al Shehhi, Thermal Systems Engineer, said: "The project's thermal systems are a challenge because the Probe will go through very hot temperatures at the launch to very cold temperatures when it reaches Mars. So, we designed the thermal systems and tested them under extremely low and high temperatures."
He added: "After arriving at Tanegashima Island, my mission was supposed to last no more than two weeks, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I decided to stay and support the team in receiving and moving the probe and testing the devices to ensure their safety and help install the thermal insulator that protects the probe from the space environment. "
Weight, mass and movement
Mohammad Omran Al Ameri, Ground Support Engineer, said: "I joined the Probe Hope project in 2016 with a task to make sure that the probe's systems are correctly integrated and assembled. I also helped design and make ground support equipment, such as the equipment that help integrate scientific devices on the probe to control its movement and direction accurately."
He added: "We moved the probe after receiving it in Japan and installed mechanical equipment. We then measured its weight and central mass before and after refuelling to make sure it's ready. I also helped prepare the solar panels on the mechanical level and how they can be correctly folded in low and high temperatures since the probe will face both types of temperatures."
Khalifa Al Muheiri, Satellite Telecommunications Engineer and Communication Subsystem Lead, said: "I worked since 2016 within the Probe communications design group to ensure the integrity of communication throughout its journey from Earth to Mars. This is important for receiving all information from the Probe and sending orders to it from the earth station."
He added: "The frequency and the communication wave must be calculated precisely along with the electromagnetic radiations especially since the process of sending or receiving communication data with the Probe takes anywhere from 13 to 20 minutes due to the distance. We designed communications systems that make the data work within the correct frequency and at the correct speed to comply with the international standards approved by the International Telecommunication Union."
Khalifa joined MBRSC as a Satellite Telecommunications Engineer, going on to head the Communications Unit of the space engineering department at MBRSC in 2018. He was involved in the design and analysis of the communications subsystem, developing test procedures and scripts for performance testing and issues analysis and management on the probe. Khalifa graduated from the American University of Sharjah with a bachelor's in electrical engineering.
Dreams, ambition and dedication
Heyam Alblooshi, Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Test (MAIT) and Quality Assurance Engineer, said: "The Hope Probe is more than its scientific goals; it's a testament to the UAE's readiness to tackle challenges and proves to be the ideal incubator for youth by inspiring them to follow their dreams. The Hope Probe project was developed by a group of diligent and enthusiastic Emiratis who achieved it in record time, and our wise government has provided opportunities to excel in all fields. It represents an Emirati contribution to benefit all humanity."
Heyam graduated from Khalifa University in 2011, when she was one of eight female students to graduate from the mechanical engineering department with honours. Heyam received a research fellowship after graduation from NASA at the Ames Research Center in California, where she worked for five months on the development and improvement of the grey water filtration system used in space and earth applications.
Upon her return to the UAE, she joined GASCO to work in the Ruwais Fractionation Plant as a Planning Engineer. This made her the first female engineer alumna to work full time on the Hope Probe.
The Hope Probe is a national project that achieves the vision of the UAE's wise leadership to build an Emirati space programme that reflects the country's commitment to international cooperation and partnership and finding solutions to global challenges for the better of humanity.
The first Arab interplanetary mission carries a message of hope for all the people of the region to revive a rich history of Arab and Islamic achievements in science and embody the UAE's ambition and its continuous drive to challenge and overcome the impossible and nurture this culture in the country's citizens.
It is also the UAE's contribution to shaping and making a promising future for humanity.
The probe is expected to reach Mars' orbit in February 2021 to coincide with the UAE's golden jubilee celebrations.
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