Emirati engineers carry out final checks on Hope spacecraft

A team of Emirati engineers are carrying out the final checks and tests on the Emirates Mars Mission – Hope Probe.

Since its arrival at Japan’s Tanegashima Space Centre, the Hope Probe has undergone a series of tests over a period of 50 working days.

It entails functional tests of the spacecraft subsystems and also includes filling the fuel tank and ensuring there are no leaks. It also requires moving the probe to the launch pad, installing the probe on the rocket, and ensuring the batteries are fully charged prior to liftoff.

"The final checks are important steps to ensure that all systems are functioning and meeting the requirements before the fueling. Getting these parameters are vital prior to getting the Probe ready for the liftoff as per our launch window," said Suhail AlDhafri, Emirates Mars Mission Deputy Project Manager and Spacecraft Lead.

The Hope Probe is set to lift-off on July 15.