![Omran Sharaf is the project director for the Emirates' Hope space probe to Mars. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L3N2OIN3MGQGAHEVYHDNLZM6Z4.jpg?smart=true&auth=13418eb110707933ca8a485d259020d913fb63ab35972b59e0c7e4dfcc916b36&width=400&height=225)
![The operations control room at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, where Emirati personnel track and communicate with UAE's Mars Hope probe. Antonie Robertson / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2DZNTPJWTPDK4NJ7BOJFZDK3KU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2895edc5bfcc6513d6d2755c0311c4a0ec06cee24d7fa3c441f024f9beab6ac1&width=400&height=225)
![Zakareyya Al Shamsi, the deputy manager of mission operations, explains how the team is constantly tracking the probe. Antonie Robertson / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VHX2YFX5435X6RCTQOUUVOZOWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=77139c57ae17b23897c0086520900962c7479e77c94b9f1025fe75259ce09c9b&width=400&height=225)
![Mohammad Al Balooshi, flight controller, sends the 'go/no-go' instructions to the person responsible for issuing commands to the probe. Antonie Robertson / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E3FSJFCKWHNL2JABYDMIC4ZBZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=74ff65fb98408535552cf50cdeaa8d79e181eb1a8de2fe9964d2c2a7a707f65a&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Al Shamsi explains how they track the UAE's Hope probe. Antonie Robertson / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TDIFM543JKJH2H3PP6KK7W3W4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=630014a5eab73a2b2c5abe9d068184e598e4e1ebfd0828573c397c20faa0e6eb&width=400&height=225)
![The UAE's Hope probe lifted off from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre on July 20, 1.58am UAE time. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RWWX5O7FQCQN6ZFVGV3ZJCAN2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=e97760fe677200eacb142a53f5c93e86c907316cfd3e8850e8f9f0be64900124&width=400&height=225)
![The final version of the spacecraft has two solar panels that help power its systems. Photo: Emirates Mars Mission](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J2WFINDX5C2BWWNA2NR235RN3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba9559b0344a6a08c9ac56582fbfb440a553b4e09ee6df28a30ade3526836af3&width=400&height=225)
![The UAE team watch the launch of the Mars Hope probe at the Tanegashima Space Centre.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MKILQUTYDJG2RFD3W3DU7MEYRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=66a0ac846b963ab4a83d37e0981b99bf923d436d9647870ac305450af3d886c8&width=400&height=225)
![Omran Sharaf is the project director for the Emirates' Hope space probe to Mars. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L3N2OIN3MGQGAHEVYHDNLZM6Z4.jpg?smart=true&auth=13418eb110707933ca8a485d259020d913fb63ab35972b59e0c7e4dfcc916b36&width=400&height=225)
![The operations control room at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, where Emirati personnel track and communicate with UAE's Mars Hope probe. Antonie Robertson / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2DZNTPJWTPDK4NJ7BOJFZDK3KU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2895edc5bfcc6513d6d2755c0311c4a0ec06cee24d7fa3c441f024f9beab6ac1&width=400&height=225)
![Zakareyya Al Shamsi, the deputy manager of mission operations, explains how the team is constantly tracking the probe. Antonie Robertson / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VHX2YFX5435X6RCTQOUUVOZOWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=77139c57ae17b23897c0086520900962c7479e77c94b9f1025fe75259ce09c9b&width=400&height=225)
![Mohammad Al Balooshi, flight controller, sends the 'go/no-go' instructions to the person responsible for issuing commands to the probe. Antonie Robertson / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E3FSJFCKWHNL2JABYDMIC4ZBZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=74ff65fb98408535552cf50cdeaa8d79e181eb1a8de2fe9964d2c2a7a707f65a&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Al Shamsi explains how they track the UAE's Hope probe. Antonie Robertson / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TDIFM543JKJH2H3PP6KK7W3W4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=630014a5eab73a2b2c5abe9d068184e598e4e1ebfd0828573c397c20faa0e6eb&width=400&height=225)
![The UAE's Hope probe lifted off from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre on July 20, 1.58am UAE time. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RWWX5O7FQCQN6ZFVGV3ZJCAN2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=e97760fe677200eacb142a53f5c93e86c907316cfd3e8850e8f9f0be64900124&width=400&height=225)
![The final version of the spacecraft has two solar panels that help power its systems. Photo: Emirates Mars Mission](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J2WFINDX5C2BWWNA2NR235RN3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba9559b0344a6a08c9ac56582fbfb440a553b4e09ee6df28a30ade3526836af3&width=400&height=225)
![The UAE team watch the launch of the Mars Hope probe at the Tanegashima Space Centre.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MKILQUTYDJG2RFD3W3DU7MEYRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=66a0ac846b963ab4a83d37e0981b99bf923d436d9647870ac305450af3d886c8&width=400&height=225)
![Omran Sharaf is the project director for the Emirates' Hope space probe to Mars. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L3N2OIN3MGQGAHEVYHDNLZM6Z4.jpg?smart=true&auth=13418eb110707933ca8a485d259020d913fb63ab35972b59e0c7e4dfcc916b36&width=400&height=225)
UAE Mars Mission: inside the Dubai control centre tracking the Hope probe
'The National' gains exclusive access to watch Emirati engineers communicate with the probe in deep space
![Sarwat Nasir](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5a1721d1-b1fc-47a7-8c35-985395d5a5ae.png?smart=true&auth=59b598b8295381dbbb5492b5ef6a2ffa0d77e07c0a1086053fcdbee600f14b7f&width=70&height=70)
Sarwat Nasir
July 28, 2020
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July 28, 2020