The Hope Probe entered Mars orbit in February.
Were you gripped by the escapades of the Hope Probe to Mars back in February?
Well lean forward and assume the position on the edge of your seat as we have more space news about which to get excited.
The UAE’s next space mission (drum roll) will be to the second planet closet to the sun, Venus.
أطلقت دولة الإمارات اليوم ضمن مشاريع الخمسين مهمة جديدة في مجال الفضاء .. مهمة لاستكشاف كوكب الزهرة و7 كويكبات أخرى في المجموعة الشمسية … وتنفيذ أول هبوط عربي على كويكب في ختام الرحلة التي ستقطع 3.6 مليار كم (7 أضعاف رحلة مسبار الأمل لكوكب المريخ) pic.twitter.com/mUnB1fmyUu
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) October 5, 2021
Announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, on his Twitter page, the mission to Venus will be a part of the country’s 50 space projects with seven asteroids also to be explored.
Set to be launched in 2028, the mission’s primary objective will be to explore the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Some 3.6 billion kilometres away, the belt is where most of the meteorites that may impact earth are located.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces said the launch of the project set an ambitious goal for the space programme.
HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said: “The launch of a new project to explore Venus and the asteroid belt sets an ambitious new goal for our country’s burgeoning space programme.
“The UAE is determined to make a meaningful contribution to space exploration, scientific research and our understanding of the solar system.”
The launch of a new project to explore Venus and the asteroid belt sets an ambitious new goal for our country’s burgeoning space programme. The UAE is determined to make a meaningful contribution to space exploration, scientific research and our understanding of the solar system. pic.twitter.com/bS7QJpK0KL
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) October 5, 2021
It is expected by the middle of 2028, the spacecraft will make its first planetary approach and orbit Venus with the first fly-by of the main asteroid belt occurring in 2030.
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Image source Canva