The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM), led by the United Arab Emirates, has recently broadened its research scope to include the detailed observation of the Martian moon Deimos. This initiative marks a significant milestone in Mars exploration and its moons, offering new insights into their origins and compositions. The Hope probe, launched in July 2020, has been orbiting Mars since February 2021 and has been adjusted to approach Deimos, capturing high-resolution images and valuable data.
Mission Context and Objectives
The Emirates Mars Mission is the first interplanetary exploration initiative led by an Arab nation. The Hope probe, also known as Al Amal, was designed to study the Martian atmospheric layers, understand dramatic climate changes, and investigate the loss of hydrogen and oxygen from Mars’ atmosphere. Thanks to a recent orbital adjustment, the probe can now approach within approximately 150 km of Deimos, gathering unprecedented data and striking images of the moon.
Key Observations and Discoveries
The Hope probe has conducted several close flybys of Deimos, capturing spectacular images and composition data. These observations include the first high-resolution views of the dark side of Deimos, previously unseen. The data suggest that Deimos might not be a captured asteroid but rather formed from material dislodged from Mars. The probe’s instruments, such as the Emirates Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS), the Emirates Infrared Spectrometer (EMIRS), and the Emirates Exploration Imager (EXI), have provided detailed insights into the moon’s composition and thermophysical properties.
International Collaboration and Future Implications
The Emirates Mars Mission is a model of international collaboration in space exploration. It involves joint efforts between Emirati engineers and American scientists, including institutions like the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), Arizona State University, and the University of California, Berkeley. The data collected during the mission will be freely shared with over 200 institutions worldwide, contributing to a global understanding of Mars and its satellites. Continued study of Deimos will advance our knowledge of the Martian system and its evolution.
Thanks to recent detailed observations and orbital adjustments, the UAE’s Hope Probe has significantly enriched our understanding of the Martian moon Deimos. As the mission progresses, it is expected to provide further information on the origins and composition of Deimos and Phobos, thereby enhancing global knowledge in space exploration. This initiative underscores the UAE’s commitment to advancing space science and encouraging international cooperation in the field.
