A cloudy day on Mars: UAE releases new Hope probe data

So far, 827.7 gigabytes of data has been released to the world free of charge, helping to boost the scientific community's understanding of the Red Planet

HOPE MISSION MILESTONES - IN PICTURES: On July 16, 2014, the UAE announced its Mars mission would reach the planet in 2021, in time for the country's Golden Jubilee. Photo: Nasa

On May 8, 2015, during a glittering ceremony at Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi, the name of the spacecraft and timeline of the mission is unveiled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Photo: Emirates Mars Mission

On November 12, 2017, at the Dubai Airshow, a prototype of the Mars spacecraft goes on display. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

On January 5, 2020, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, right, and Sheikh Mohamed sign the final piece of the Hope Probe before it is shipped to Japan for the launch. Photo: Wam

On January 21, 2020, a launch window between July 14 and August 3, 2020, is announced. The spacecraft would lift off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Centre, aboard the HII-A rocket. On May 19, it is announced the first launch attempt would be made on July 15, 2020. Photo: Dubai Media Office

On April 5, 2020, Emirati engineers are sent, months in advance, to the launch site due to Covid-19. Some team members stay behind because only a limited number of people are allowed on site. Photo: Emirates Mars Mission

On April 25, 2020, the space orbiter arrives on Tanegashima island, 1,000 kilometres south of Tokyo. Photo: Emirates Mars Mission

The vehicle travelled in a special container to avoid damage and flew on one of the world's largest cargo planes. Photo: Emirates Mars Mission

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and chairperson of the UAE Space Agency, and mission director Omran Sharaf, third left, discuss with engineers shipping the Hope probe to Japan. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

The Hope probe arrives in Tanegashima island for a launch attempt on July 15, 2020. Courtesy: Yoshiaki Sakita

Heavy rainfall and strong winds delay the mission twice, on July 15 and July 17. Courtesy: Shoma Watanbe

On July 20, 2020, the Hope probe lifts off and begins its 493-million-kilometre journey to Mars. AFP

Sarah Al Amiri celebrates a successful take-off with launch provider Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. AFP

On July 22, 2020, the probe captures an image of Mars two days after it began its journey to the Red Planet. Sheikh Mohammed shared this image on Twitter. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed Twitter

On February 9, 2021, Sarah Al Amiri hosted an event at Dubai's Burj Park and gave live updates on the mission. Reuters

On February 9, 2021, mission director Omran Sharaf announces the Hope probe has successfully entered Mars orbit. Photo: Wam

Joyous scenes at the event in Burj Park. Christopher Pike / Reuters

Moments after the announcement, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid thank staff at mission control in Dubai. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

On February 14, 2021, the spacecraft sends its first global image of the Red Planet. Photo: Emirates Mars Mission

On October 1, 2021, the UAE releases the first set of data collected by the mission, including images and science readings of the atmosphere and weather. Photo: Emirates Mars Mission

This image taken by the Hope probe’s ultraviolet spectrometer shows sunlight reflected from the extended cloud of atomic hydrogen gas that surrounds Mars. The sunlight is visible only as a dark disk hidden within the gas. Emirates Mars Mission

On January 1, a second set of data is released for free to the public. This image was enhanced by Andrea Luck and shows another cloudy day on the planet. The North Pole, Olympus Mons and Tharsis Montes are also visible. Photo: Hope Mars Mission / Andrew Luck

The UAE has released its latest treasure trove of Mars data captured by the Hope probe on its orbit of the Red Planet.

The third collection contains 57 gigabytes of images and information gathered from September to November of last year, bringing the total amount of data issued to date to 827.7 gigabytes.

The latest observations indicate how Hope probe’s instruments attempted to capture motion and evolution in the atmosphere, where it observed high-density clouds in November.

So far, scientists, researchers and astronomy enthusiasts have downloaded about 1.4 terabytes of data retrieved by Hope. It is available online free of charge.

“The probe is continuing its planned mission to orbit around Mars perfectly,” said Omran Sharaf, project director of the mission.

“The efficiency and high quality of the probe, manufactured by esteemed Emirati skills and international expertise, is the culmination of years of advances and progresses in manufacturing satellites, in accordance with world-class engineering and industrial standards.”

During this period of data collection, the Mars Solar Conjunction phase took place, which created a blackout in communications and halted science observation and data collection.

This phase happens about every two years and is caused when Earth and Mars are on the opposite sides of the Sun, which emits hot, ionised gas that interferes with radio signals.

Operations returned to normal once the phase over.

The spacecraft entered orbit around Mars on February 9, 2021 with a goal of studying the planet's dynamic weather system and atmospheric conditions.

The mission was developed by Emirati engineers and researchers, in collaboration with three American universities, including Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Arizona and the University of California, Berkeley.

The crucial data beamed back to Earth by the Hope probe aims to help scientists better understand the planet, including what causes hydrogen and oxygen to escape from its upper atmosphere.

Hope is also studying the relation between the higher and lower atmospheres of Mars, as well phenomena such as the planet’s intense dust storms.

The spacecraft tracked an enormous dust storm for two weeks, helping to show how quickly these ca spread across the planet.

“Publishing the data and images captured by the Hope probe and sharing it with the global scientific community reflects the UAE’s commitment to supporting scientific progress in the field of space and related sciences,” said Mr Sharaf.

“Sharing this data about the Red Planet’s atmosphere and climate with scientists, engineers, researchers, students and other beneficiaries will contribute to supporting scientific research and studies that seek to find out more about Mars and its climate’s shifts and interactions.”