Four years of Hope: UAE’s probe continues to unravel mysteries of Mars

The UAE’s Hope probe completed four years in orbit around Mars on Sunday and is continuing to deliver crucial scientific data that is helping researchers better understand the Red Planet’s atmosphere, weather and potential signs of past life. On February 9, 2021, the country became the first Arab nation and the fifth worldwide to enter the planet’s orbit with a car-sized spacecraft. Since then, researchers around the world have been using the probe's data to fill the gaps in understanding Mars’s climate history, atmospheric dynamics and the presence of biosignature gases that could indicate whether the planet once hosted life. The mission has also provided unprecedented insights into Martian auroras, weather patterns and one of the planet’s two moons, Deimos. “The fourth anniversary of the Hope Probe’s arrival at Mars marks a significant milestone, not only for the UAE but for the global scientific community,” Dr Dimitra Atri, an astrophysicist at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), told The National . “The success of the Hope Probe has also enabled the establishment of my research group at the university, where a team of over two dozen researchers and students, including a number of UAE nationals, has been working tirelessly to analyse and interpret the mission’s data.” The probe’s unique elliptical orbit allows it to observe Mars from varying altitudes, providing an unprecedented view of its weather patterns, seasonal changes and atmospheric composition. One of its key scientific contributions has been the creation of a high-resolution Atlas of Mars, developed by the research team at NYUAD. “By applying advanced algorithms to thousands of images and data sets from Hope, we’ve produced a comprehensive visual and analytical resource of the planet with unparalleled clarity,” Dr Atri said. Hope’s ultraviolet spectrometer, one of its three science instruments, has also detected a never-before-seen Martian aurora stretching thousands of kilometres across the planet. Scientists are now using this data to study how solar winds interact with Mars’ thin atmosphere, which could help explain why the planet lost its once-thick atmosphere and vast amounts of water. Dr Atri’s team is also using Hope’s data to track methane, which could hint at past or present microbial activity. These gases are known to break down quickly, so their detection in the Martian atmosphere would suggest a continuing process, possibly biological. “We are also working on an AI-powered weather prediction model for Mars. Leveraging Hope’s extensive data set, this model aims to forecast Martian weather patterns, including dust storms and temperature fluctuations, with remarkable precision,” said Dr Atri. “Such tools are essential for planning future missions and ensuring the safety of astronauts on the planet.” The success of the mission has put the UAE on the map in global space exploration and paved the way for more ambitious missions. Emirati engineers are now developing the MBR Explorer, which will launch in 2028 to explore seven asteroids and will swing by Venus and Mars to reach there. Mohammed Omran Alameri, lead engineer for space projects at the UAE Space Agency, told The National that they are working with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder again, as they did for the Hope probe mission. “We’re going beyond Mars, and we’re getting very close to the Sun when we do the Venus gravity assist maneouver,” said Mr Alameri. “The Venus gravity itself – it's imposed a lot of thermal constraints. The spacecraft needs to be able to dissipate a lot of heat because we're close to the Sun. “At the same time, when we go to the asteroid belt, it's a very cold environment, so you need the heat to be within the spacecraft.” He said the spacecraft would use an electric propulsion system, which is essential for long-duration missions like this one. Solar arrays, measuring 16 metres, on the MBR Explorer will help generate a significant amount of power to run the propulsion system and other critical systems. They would also help the craft stay at the right temperature, ensuring it can handle both the extreme heat near Venus and the freezing cold of the asteroid belt. The mission is being developed in collaboration with local companies to help give a boost to the private industry. Omran Sharaf helped lead the UAE's mission to Mars and was later appointed as the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation for Advanced Science and Technology. He said at the Mars Society Convention in 2021 that MBR Explorer would test how well the UAE’s space team can transfer the knowledge gained from the Mars project to the private sector. “It's a new and critical phase in the UAE space programme because one of the biggest challenges is how we can ensure that the knowledge that we've gained through the Mars and previous missions is properly given to the private sector,” Mr Sharaf said. “Because, ultimately, this is about serving our economy and addressing our environmental challenges.”

Four years of Hope: UAE’s probe continues to unravel mysteries of Mars

Spacecraft's data advances research on the Red Planet's atmosphere, climate and potential habitability