The Emirates Mars Exploration Project, the “Hope Probe”, made new observations regarding the Martian climate.
This came as part of the third batch of scientific data that he collected as part of his mission around the orbit of Mars, using the scientific monitoring devices he carries during the period between September 1 and November 30 last year.
The “Probe of Hope” had made it possible to access the data monitored by all the devices installed on the probe through its official website, as the third batch that was published includes more than 57 gigabytes of information, images and important data regarding the climate of the red planet, as it was monitored through a group of Scientific devices carried by the probe, bringing the total volume of data recorded by the probe to approximately 827.7 GB. The probe’s digital exploration camera (EXI) also monitored through a new observation designed to capture the movement and evolution of atmospheric phenomena, unique images of high-density clouds on November 22, 2021.
The Hope probe entered the phase of solar conjunction in October, as the probe temporarily stopped monitoring scientific observations, data collection, and all communications due to the limited visibility between Earth and missions around Mars.
This phenomenon occurs approximately every two years, as the sun emits hot ionized gases that interfere with the radio communication signals sent by the Hope probe. The orbital motion of Mars around the sun allows the restoration of the Hope probe’s communications following the end of the solar conjunction phase.
Information and data were shared with members of the scientific community and those interested in space sciences from all over the world through the data center on the project’s website. The Emirates Mars Exploration Project relies on publishing data in the form of quarterly payments, i.e. every three months, following monitoring it by devices installed on the probe and indexing and analyzing it by the specialized scientific team. The first and second installments received wide attention and follow-up by scientists, researchers, experts and space enthusiasts around the world, as they witnessed the download of approximately 1.4 terabytes of them.
In this regard, Eng. Imran Sharaf, Director of the Emirates Mars Exploration Project, said: “The publication of data, information and scientific images captured by the Hope Probe with the global scientific community reflects the UAE’s keenness to achieve its commitment to promoting scientific progress in general and in the space field and related sciences in particular. Sharing this data regarding the climate and atmosphere of the Red Planet with the various concerned parties, including scientists, engineers, researchers, students and other beneficiary groups, will essentially contribute to supporting scientific research and studies aimed at more accurate knowledge of the Red Planet, including climate, its changes and interactions.
Sharaf added: “The probe continues its mission and rotates in its planned scientific orbit around Mars naturally, emphasizing the efficiency and quality of the Emirati manufacturing of the probe and global expertise, which is the culmination of years of development and progress in the manufacture of satellites that are characterized by engineering and manufacturing capabilities according to the highest international standards. The probe puts its distinguished scientific capabilities today in the hands of the science and research community around Mars, consolidating the UAE’s advanced position in the space fields.”
For her part, Hessa Al Matrooshi, Deputy Director of the Emirates Mars Exploration Project, said: “We were pleased with the new observations and data that the Hope probe monitored regarding the planet Mars. With each batch we receive, we get more insights and knowledge related to the Red Planet and its atmosphere, which supports the objectives of this scientific mission. In providing useful scientific data and strengthening national capacities and global partnerships.”
The Hope Probe continues to orbit in its 20,000-43,000 km orbit with a 25-degree inclination toward Mars, giving it the unique ability to complete one orbit around the planet every 55 hours, capturing comprehensive observations of the planet every nine days. The probe had previously published images and data, the first of its kind, of the phenomenon of separate auroras in the atmosphere of Mars during the night, and unprecedented observations regarding the behavior of gases and interactions in the atmosphere of the red planet, and other discoveries that change previous concepts regarding the distribution of ultraviolet light emitted by The upper atmosphere of Mars.
The Hope probe studies the current state of Mars and its climate and the reasons for the escape of hydrogen and oxygen gases from the upper layers of its atmosphere, in addition to exploring the relationship between the lower and upper atmosphere layers of Mars, and investigating various phenomena such as dust storms, temperature changes and diverse climate patterns depending on the terrain. The “Probe of Hope” weighs regarding 1,350 kilograms, the equivalent of a small SUV, and was designed and developed by the engineers of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in cooperation with academic partners, including the “Atmospheric and Space Physics Laboratory” at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. California, Berkeley.