UAE successfully launches its first spacecraft towards Mars
Dubai, Jul 20, 2020: UAE made history on Monday by successfully launching its spacecraft "Al Amal" towards Mars from a Japanese launch center, marking the Arab world's first interplanetary mission, according to media reports.
Al Amal, or Hope Probe, weighing 1.3 tonnes was launched from the H-2A rocket from Japan''s remote Tanegashima spaceport at 1.58 am local time.
The probe's telecom system was set up and it transmitted its first signal after it successfully separated from the launch vehicle and its solar panels were deployed with clockwork precision an hour after the launch, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launch Services, which is the launch operator, confirmed.
The signals were received by the Mission Control team in Dubai''s Al Khawaneej.
The solar panels will charge the bat...