DUBAI – A spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to swing into orbit around Mars in the Arab world’s first interplanetary mission on Tuesday.
The orbiter, Amal, Arabic for Hope, is the first of three robotic explorers arriving at the red planet over the next week and a half.
Amal traveled 300 million miles in nearly seven months to get to Mars with the goal of mapping its atmosphere throughout each season.
For the UAE, it was the country’s first venture beyond Earth’s orbit, making the flight a matter of intense national pride.(AP)
