Mars, the red planet. (ISRO)Accomplishing a major, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched its first-ever space mission to the Mars today (20 July), reports Economic Times.
The gulf nations aims to develop its scientific and technological capabilities and reduce its reliance on oil.
Named 'Hope' the probe was launched off by UAE from Japanese Tanegashima Space centre at 1.58 am UAE time. The probe was first set to be launched off on 14 July, but its launch had since been delayed twice due to bad weather conditions.
The probe will take seven months to complete the journey to the red planet. Once its reaches Mars, the probe will then orbit the planet and begin to send back data about its atmosphere.
The mission cost entailed by UAE is $200 million and it will aim to provide the complete picture of the Martian atmosphere for the first time, conducting studies on seasonal and daily changes.
It should be noted that there are eight active missions exploring mars in the present day, which includes India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) which is also called Mangalyaan.
The project had been launched off on 5 September 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organisation and it began orbiting Mars on 24 September 2014. It continues to be in service even today, having outlived its operational life multiple times over.
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