Which among the following became the first Arab Nation to launch the Mars Mission in July, 2020 ?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — C, the United Arab Emirates. The UAE's Emirates Mars Mission, with its 'Hope' probe (Al-Amal), was launched on 19-20 July 2020 aboard a Japanese H-IIA rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center. It made the UAE the first Arab and West Asian country to send a mission to Mars; the probe entered Mars orbit on 9 February 2021, making the UAE the fifth space agency to reach Mars — and the first to do so on its maiden attempt among Arab nations.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Saudi Arabia has a space programme and satellites, but it did not launch a Mars mission; the first Arab Mars mission was the UAE's Hope probe.  (b) Kuwait had no Mars mission in July 2020; it is not the answer.  (d) Qatar did not launch a Mars mission; the Arab-world first belongs to the UAE.

Concept: July 2020 saw a rare 'Mars launch window' (when Earth-Mars alignment minimises fuel), and three missions left within days: the UAE's Hope orbiter, China's Tianwen-1 (orbiter-lander-rover), and NASA's Perseverance rover. Hope's role is scientific — studying the Martian atmosphere, weather and the loss of hydrogen and oxygen to space.

State PCS 2020 Q33 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2020 Q33 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer