Science & Technology

UAE Mars Mission

 Upper-advanced
2020/07/30 14:59

Today's Vocabulary

1.launched (v) 
to begin something such as a plan  or introduce something new such as a product

2. probe (v)
to try to discover information  that other people do not want  you to  know, by asking questions carefully and not directly 

 

3. orbit (n)
the curved path  through which objects  in space move around a planet or a star

4.ranks (n)
the members of a group or organization, or members  of the armed service who are not officers

5. understatement  (n)
a statement that describes  something in a way that makes it seem less important, serious, bad, etc. than it really is, or the act of making such statements


6. springboard (n)
something that provides you either with the opportunity to follow

UAE Mars Mission

The space agency of the United Arab Emirates has launched its historic first mission to Mars. The UAE launched its Hope probe on an H2-A rocket from a spaceport in Japan on Monday. The probe is on an incredible 500-million-km journey to study the weather and climate on the Red Planet. Hope is scheduled to arrive in Mars’ orbit in February 2021, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the formation of the UAE. The Emirates Mars Mission will stay in the Martian orbit for 687 days. It will collect data samples of the Martian atmosphere to analyse. Scientists in Dubai hope their findings will add to our understanding of how Mars lost a lot of its air and water, as well as springing up a few surprises.

The UAE has joined the ranks of long-established pioneering space giants such as the USA, Russia, China, India and Japan. Entering the field of space exploration is a testament to the ambitions of this young country. The Khaleej Times newspaper explained how momentous the Hope probe is for the UAE. It wrote: “It’s an understatement to say that the UAE made history last night. By using history as a springboard, the UAE has catapulted itself and along with it the world into the future – a future of insight and intelligence, beyond mere imagination. For more than 400 million Arabs in the world, one hour, 58 minutes and 14 seconds past midnight last night was a moment that epitomised an eternity.”

Resource: https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2007/200722-uae-mars-mission.html

Discussion
  1. For how long did a newspaper suggest the launch epitomised?
  2. What kind of rocket was used in the launch?
  3. When will the probe arrive in the Martian orbit?

“I’m surprised to see people get so wildly excited about a possible bacterium on Mars when our own planet is crawling with undiscovered species.”

George Schaller

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