The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Space Agency has achieved remarkable growth in the decade since its founding, bolstering its space exploration efforts through a strong partnership with the United States (US). Through unwavering determination and collaboration with groups like NASA, the UAE has contributed significantly to the future of space science and exploration. A prime example of the nation’s endeavors is the UAE’s Mars Mission.
The UAE successfully launched its Hope Probe mission on July 20, 2020, becoming the first Arab nation to explore the Red Planet. The Hope Mission seeks to provide the first comprehensive picture of Mars’ atmosphere. The research collected during the mission aims to help the world understand Mars’ climate dynamics and weather patterns, how the weather affects the escape of hydrogen and oxygen through the lower and upper atmospheres and will investigate the nature of hydrogen and oxygen in the upper atmosphere to identify why Mars is losing them into space.
Expeditions like the Emirates Mars Mission will continue to expand humanity’s understanding of our solar system. Through such exploration, we can further research the possible existence of extraterrestrial life, explore the potential for establishing human communities on other planets, and more. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba is proud to support the UAE-US space partnership, which will continue to foster opportunities for such pioneering endeavors.