U.S., July 10 -- On July 14, the Emirates Mars probe - "Hope" or "Al Amal" in Arabic - is scheduled to liftoff from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center and begin a seven-month journey to the Red Planet. The probe is expected to enter Mars' orbit in 2021, coinciding with the UAE's 50th anniversary. The mission will contribute vital knowledge to the global space community and prove that the UAE, a young nation with a newly formed space exploration program, can achieve this breakthrough by prioritizing an ambitious advanced sciences agenda.

Days before this historic liftoff, two barrier-breaking leaders, UAE Minister of Advanced Technology and Deputy Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission Sarah Al Amiri and Dr. Ellen Stofan, Director of ...