'See you soon!' - Nasa's Mars rover and Hope probe exchange messages

Perseverance is due to blast off from Florida in the same launch window as the UAE's probe

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

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 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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Screengrab courtesy MHI Launch Services

Nasa's Perseverance rover sent a cheerful message to the Hope probe to congratulate it on a successful launch on Monday.

"Congratulations on your launch!" Nasa wrote on Twitter.

"I wish you a successful journey and look forward to the sol [Martian day] when we are both exploring Mars."

Hope's team responded: "Thank you. The launch was really exciting. I wish you all the best for your big day. See you soon!"

Nasa is working to a similar launch window to send Perseverance to the Red Planet.

It was due to blast off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on July 17 but the launch has been scrubbed three times due to technical problems.

Engineers have until mid-August to make the launch window, after which the distance between Earth and Mars would be too great to travel.

If the launch goes ahead, Perseverance is due to land on Mars' surface in February 2021 to search out signs of past microbial life - if that ever existed.

It would be the first mission to specifically hunt for so-called biosignatures since the twin Viking 1 and 2 launches in 1975.

The two landers successfully reached Mars and were the first to send home images of the surface of the Red Planet.

Both operated far beyond their 90-day lifetimes, to 1980 and 1982 respectively, offering scientists an unrivalled insight into Mars.

A third Mars mission is planned for this month when China attempts to send its Tianwen-1 vehicle to Mars.

It aims to complete orbiting, landing and roving all in one mission and is equipped with a range of devices to measure minerals and particles.

It is due to land on a region of Mars called Utopia Planitia, where Viking 2 touched down in 1976.

If Nasa and China's missions cannot take off during the launch period, they would have to wait until 2022 when Earth and Mars align again.