The United Arab Emirates Hope spacecraft arrived in Mars’ orbit yesterday, following a seven-month journey that began last summer. The mission is one of three expected to reach Mars this month, including China’s Tianwen-1 orbiter (today) and the US’ Perseverance rover (next week).
More context: The UAE’s space agency is the fifth to reach Mars’ orbit, joining the US, the Soviet Union, Europe, and India. The Arab nation’s space program is part of a broader effort to diversify its economy (which is heavily reliant on oil).
The New Paper
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