The Hope probe launches from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre on July 20. AFP
The Hope probe launches from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre on July 20. AFP
It will take the spacecraft, which later detached from the rocket, about 200 days to reach the Red Planet, arriving in February 2021. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
It will take the spacecraft, which later detached from the rocket, about 200 days to reach the Red Planet, arriving in February 2021. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
The launch of the rocket is captured on video at Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
The launch of the rocket is captured on video at Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
The first homegrown Arab space mission drew in interest from across the globe. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
The first homegrown Arab space mission drew in interest from across the globe. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Waiting for the launch in the morning light. MHI Launch Services twitter
Waiting for the launch in the morning light. MHI Launch Services twitter
Emirati journalists clap as they watch the launch of the Hope space probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP
Emirati journalists clap as they watch the launch of the Hope space probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP
A broadcasting of the launch of the Hope Mars probe at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP
A broadcasting of the launch of the Hope Mars probe at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP
An Emirati man wipes a tear away with his face mask while watching the launch of the Hope space probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP
An Emirati man wipes a tear away with his face mask while watching the launch of the Hope space probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP
Mohammed Al Mannaee, an announcer with Dubai TV, reacts as he watches the launch. AP
Mohammed Al Mannaee, an announcer with Dubai TV, reacts as he watches the launch. AP
Sarah Al Ameeri and the UAE team watch the launch at at the Tanegashima Space Centre
Sarah Al Ameeri and the UAE team watch the launch at at the Tanegashima Space Centre
The UAE team watch the launch of the Mars Hope probe at at the Tanegashima Space Centre.
The UAE team watch the launch of the Mars Hope probe at at the Tanegashima Space Centre.
Sarah Al Ameeri and the UAE team watch the launch at at the Tanegashima Space Centre
Sarah Al Ameeri and the UAE team watch the launch at at the Tanegashima Space Centre
A screen broadcasts the launch of the Mars probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP
A screen broadcasts the launch of the Mars probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP
Solid rocket booster (SRB-A) was separated after burnout during the launch of the H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Mars explore, are recorded by cameras onboard the rocket after the lauch from Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. REUTERS
Solid rocket booster (SRB-A) was separated after burnout during the launch of the H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Mars explore, are recorded by cameras onboard the rocket after the lauch from Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. REUTERS
A screen broadcasts the launch of the Mars probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP
A screen broadcasts the launch of the Mars probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP
The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: MHI Launch Services
The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: MHI Launch Services
Omran Sharaf, the project director for the Hope space probe, speaks on his mobile phone at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP
Omran Sharaf, the project director for the Hope space probe, speaks on his mobile phone at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP
Sarah Al Ameeri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences of United Arab Emirates, celebrates with Naohiko Abe, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Senior Vice President, Head of Integrated Defence and Space Systems, after the successful launch of the H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Mars explore, at Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. REUTERS
Sarah Al Ameeri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences of United Arab Emirates, celebrates with Naohiko Abe, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Senior Vice President, Head of Integrated Defence and Space Systems, after the successful launch of the H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Mars explore, at Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. REUTERS
Emiratis are pictured at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai ahead of the expected launch of the "Hope" Mars probe from Japan. AFP
Emiratis are pictured at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai ahead of the expected launch of the "Hope" Mars probe from Japan. AFP
The weather was clear over Tanegashima Island in southern Japan on Sunday after weeks of rain and cloudy conditions. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
The weather was clear over Tanegashima Island in southern Japan on Sunday after weeks of rain and cloudy conditions. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Emirati engineers wave in a picture taken on Sunday from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission / UAE Space Agency
Emirati engineers wave in a picture taken on Sunday from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission / UAE Space Agency
The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Screengrab courtesy MHI Launch Services
The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Screengrab courtesy MHI Launch Services

Science

Sarah Al Amiri: who is the young space chief behind UAE's mission to Mars?

From launching satellites to a planned lunar mission, the engineer is the key driver of this country's space ambitions

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir
UAE

February 09, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

National Editorial: What Hope and the Mars Mission means

UAE space chief Sarah Al Amiri spearheads the mission to Mars, which will make history if it successfully orbits the Red Planet on Tuesday.

She is Minister of State for Advanced Technology and was appointed chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency in 2020.

The mother-of-two began her career a decade ago building satellites.

Later, she was part of the team that sent an Emirati astronaut to space and now has her sights on an upcoming lunar mission.

As the Hope probe prepares to enter Mars' orbit at 7.42pm UAE-time on Tuesday, we look at a career destined for the stars.

Launching a stellar career

In 2009, she graduated with a bachelor’s in computer engineering from the American University of Sharjah.

"It was a deep fascination into how these objects and computers worked. How they were built, how they were designed and how the hardware operates with the software,” she said in a recent interview.

In 2009, she was hired by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (then called the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology) to work on the UAE’s first satellite, DubaiSat-1.

Since then, she has held multiple titles, including chairperson of UAE Council of Scientists and manager of space science section at the space centre.

She has been leading the Emirates Mars Mission as the deputy manager and science lead.

Speaking to The National for a podcast series reflecting on the year 2020, Ms Al Amiri explained how she and her team were able to launch a probe to Mars at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“That is what space teaches you, just be the nature of the risk that is in the business”.

She also have advice for those who have to lead a team through uncertain times:

“Change is not something that comes naturally to us ... but on the other hand, adaptability is something that comes naturally to us”, saying we must learn to balance between the two.

Climbing the ranks

Ms Al Amiri’s interest and contribution to the country’s space programme helped her achieve more senior roles.

In a UAE Cabinet reshuffle in 2017, she was appointed as the Minister of State for Advanced Sciences.

Read More

Mars Mission live updates

Emirati minister Sarah Al Amiri named in BBC's top 100 women of 2020

In another reshuffle last year, she became the chairwoman of UAE Space Agency, which is a federal entity that manages and supervises the nation’s space sector, and was named Minister of State for Advanced Technology.

Since her appointment, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced that more space missions – including human spaceflights and satellites – would in the works over the next decade.

Global accolades

Ms Al Amiri was selected as one of 50 young scientists that were honoured by the World Economic Forum in 2015. Her efforts in helping develop the fields of science, tech and engineering were highlighted.

In 2016, the varsity she graduated from placed her in the Alumni Wall of Fame.

More recently, she was included in the BBC's 100 Women 2020.

Success built on strong foundations

Ms Al Amiri was raised in Abu Dhabi and comes from a line of accomplished women, including doctors, accountants, teachers and bankers.

"My mother is a college graduate. She was a teacher who was quite passionate about what she was doing," Ms Al Amiri told news wire AFP.

Dubai's mission control - in pictures 

'The National' visited mission control at Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to learn how engineers are preparing for Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion, set for February 9. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National
'The National' visited mission control at Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to learn how engineers are preparing for Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion, set for February 9. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National
Omar Abdelrahman Hussain, mission design and navigation lead, said mission team will mostly be observers on the day. There is an 11-minute communication delay because of the distance between the two planets, so live commands will not be sent
Omar Abdelrahman Hussain, mission design and navigation lead, said mission team will mostly be observers on the day. There is an 11-minute communication delay because of the distance between the two planets, so live commands will not be sent
The Hope probe is close to completing a distance of 493.5 million kilometres. It launched on July 20, 2020 aboard a Japanese rocket and will study the upper and lower atmosphere of the Red Planet. Emirates Mars Mission
The Hope probe is close to completing a distance of 493.5 million kilometres. It launched on July 20, 2020 aboard a Japanese rocket and will study the upper and lower atmosphere of the Red Planet. Emirates Mars Mission
Pre-programmed manoeuvers have been set into the spacecraft so it can perform an automated entry into orbit
Pre-programmed manoeuvers have been set into the spacecraft so it can perform an automated entry into orbit
The programming includes firing the probe's six thrusters for 28 minutes to slow it down from about 100,000 kph to 18,000 kph to get captured into Mars' orbit
The programming includes firing the probe's six thrusters for 28 minutes to slow it down from about 100,000 kph to 18,000 kph to get captured into Mars' orbit
There will also be a brief period when communication is lost when the spacecraft travels behind Mars, blocking the signal. Engineers will do a full evaluation of how orbit entry went once contact is restored
There will also be a brief period when communication is lost when the spacecraft travels behind Mars, blocking the signal. Engineers will do a full evaluation of how orbit entry went once contact is restored
Khalid Mohammad Badri, instrument science engineer, said the scientific instruments aboard the spacecraft will remain safe during orbit entry and will be tested after completion of this critical stage
Khalid Mohammad Badri, instrument science engineer, said the scientific instruments aboard the spacecraft will remain safe during orbit entry and will be tested after completion of this critical stage
All communication with the probe has been made possible through Nasa's Deep Space Network. Their massive ground radio arrays in California, Spain and Australia are the first to send and receive telemetry from the spacecraft. The antenna in Madrid will be the first to know how orbit entry went
All communication with the probe has been made possible through Nasa's Deep Space Network. Their massive ground radio arrays in California, Spain and Australia are the first to send and receive telemetry from the spacecraft. The antenna in Madrid will be the first to know how orbit entry went
Mahmood Abdulaziz AlNasser, mission operations control development lead, said the team remains confident the orbit entry will go as planned. This stage is equally challenging as the rocket launch stage
Mahmood Abdulaziz AlNasser, mission operations control development lead, said the team remains confident the orbit entry will go as planned. This stage is equally challenging as the rocket launch stage
The probe will spend 40 hours in the capture orbit and then be transferred into the science orbit, where it will spend two years gathering data on the planet's dynamic weather conditions. It is the first time a spacecraft will be positioned so high above the Red Planet, allowing it to capture different weather patterns throughout a single day. Nasa
The probe will spend 40 hours in the capture orbit and then be transferred into the science orbit, where it will spend two years gathering data on the planet's dynamic weather conditions. It is the first time a spacecraft will be positioned so high above the Red Planet, allowing it to capture different weather patterns throughout a single day. Nasa
If orbit entry is successful, the UAE will become the fifth nation worlwide to reach Mars
If orbit entry is successful, the UAE will become the fifth nation worlwide to reach Mars
Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Scoreline:

Everton 4

Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', ​​​​​​​Digne 56', Walcott 64'

Manchester United 0

Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)

On Women's Day
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%20v%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DSaturday%2C%208.15pm%2C%20Al%20Ain%20Amblers%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESemi-final%20results%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDubai%20Exiles%2020-26%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3Cbr%3EDubai%20Tigers%2032-43%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETable%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1%20Dubai%20Tigers%2C%2033%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E2%20Dubai%20Exiles%2C%2024%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E3%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%2C%2018%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E4%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%2C%2014%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E5%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%2C%2014%20points%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency
PAKISTAN SQUAD

Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah. 

The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler

Price, base: Dh132,000

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm

Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

UAE v Zimbabwe A

Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs

Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai

Best Foreign Language Film nominees

Capernaum (Lebanon)

Cold War (Poland)

Never Look Away (Germany)

Roma (Mexico)

Shoplifters (Japan)

Your Guide to the Home
  • Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
  • Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
  • Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
     
MATCH INFO

Norwich 0

Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')

Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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