CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -United Arab Emirates becomes the first Arab country to reach Mars. The Emirates Mars mission, named the Hope probe, reached Mars’ orbit at 7:42 p.m. Tuesday local time and sent a signal back to Earth. The success of the mission makes the UAE the first Arab country and the fifth globally to reach the red planet.

Detailed explanation-2: -The mission was announced by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, in July 2014, and is aimed at enriching the capabilities of Emirati engineers and increasing human knowledge about the Martian atmosphere.

Detailed explanation-3: -The “Hope” mission to “Mars”, also called Emirates Mars Mission costed $200 million and is UAE’s first foray into interplanetary exploration. With the launch, UAE is targeting to build a human settlement on Mars within the next 100 years.

Detailed explanation-4: -On February 9, 2021, the UAE’s nearly 7-year-long scientific work on a mission to Mars became a reality when the Hope probe successfully entered the orbit of Mars-making the UAE the first Arab country, and the fifth globally, to ever reach the Red Planet.

Detailed explanation-5: -In 1971, the Soviet Union finally reached the Red Planet. Its Mars 2 orbiter, which launched May 19, 1971, arrived on Nov. 2.