Free Astronomy Magazine July-August 2015

ASTRONAUTICS molecules. As said, Hope will also be the first spacecraft to study the interactions between the atmosphere and topography of Mars, and thus the role of volcanic peaks, deep canyons and desert expanses in the development and evolution of meteo- rological phenomena. All this in order to create the first integrated model of the Martian atmosphere, namely a clear over- view of that gas structure. To this end, it will also be useful the data being collected by the NASA’s MAVEN probe, particularly in the highest part of the Martian atmo- sphere, the one directly interacting with the solar wind. Hope and MAVEN will joint- ly provide a fairly accurate answer to the issue of the dispersion of the Martian at- mosphere, which is crucial for determining the time frame in which Mars was habitable like Earth. It is estimated that during the nominal mis- sion Hope will send to the Science Data Centre in the UAE about 1,000 gigabytes of new data, which will be made available to the international scientific community. The Emirates have already invested nearly $6 billion in space technologies, while 75 local engineers, benefiting in part of the know- R ight, an art- ist’s rendition of Hope in orbit around Mars. Be- low, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Mak- toum announces, during a historic meeting held in Dubai on last 6 May, the Emirates Mars Mission plans. [Moham- med bin Rashid Space Centre]