Members of the UAE Mars team follow the progress of Hope Probe on their laptop.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces have praised successful launch of the Hope probe.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid took to Twitter and said, “We proudly announce the successful launch of the Hope probe. The ground control station in Dubai has received the first signal from the probe after its solar panels were successfully deployed to charge its batteries. Our 493 million km journey to the Red Planet starts here.”

Sheikh Mohammed also said, "This probe represents hope for millions of young Arabs looking for a better future. There is no future, no achievement, no life without hope."

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed said, “We watched the successful launch of the Hope Probe to Mars with pride and joy, as we embark on a new chapter in space, led by our exceptional youth. Congratulations to the UAE for this historic achievement.”

Earlier in the day, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) shared a video clip of the orbiter safely cruising.

The MBRSC said, “The Hope Probe, as photographed shortly between 12:22 and 12:42pm UAE time, 170,000 km from Earth. This is from astronomical observatories in US, and it appears as a bright point moving between the stars. All the best for the probe until it reaches Mars orbit.”

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The ground team will monitor the Probe 24/7 for the next two weeks to evaluate and guide it.

Sharaf said, “In the third week contact with the orbiter will be 2 to 3 times a week."

The experts have conformed that solar panels of the Probe are wide open and are facing the sun. 

On Monday afternoon, Omran Sharaf, the mission's project manager, has said the Hope probe will offer a special perspective on the planet.

During a media briefing in Dubai, Omran Sharaf announced that the Hope Probe is cruising safely towards Mars.

The transmission was established with the orbiter at around 3.11am. The ground station team erupted in joy upon receiving the first signal from the Hope Probe.