Results from the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) - Hope Probe

The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) – Hope Probe – has commenced its one-Martian-year science phase on May 23rd 2021. The goals of the mission aim to understand the Martian atmosphere, its processes, dynamics, and circulation using three scientific instruments observing Mars' different atmospheric layers simultaneously. 

Hope Probe is studying the lower atmosphere of Mars using the Emirates eXploration Imager (EXI) and the Emirates Mars Infrared Spectrometer (EMIRS). While EXI measures the distribution of water ice and ozone using ultraviolet bands, EMIRS measures the optical depth of dust, ice clouds and water vapor in the atmosphere, in addition to the temperature of the surface and the atmosphere using infrared bands. On the other hand, the Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS) is studying the upper atmosphere of Mars through extreme and far ultraviolet bands to measure the distribution of carbon monoxide and oxygen in the thermosphere, and oxygen and hydrogen in the exosphere of Mars.

The scientific observations are taken from a unique high-altitude orbit with dimension 20,000 x 43,000 km that offers unprecedented local and seasonal time coverage over most of the planet. This presentation will highlight key atmospheric and surface results from the Hope Probe since it started collecting scientific data on the Martian atmosphere upon arrival to Mars on February 9th 2021. The data returned from the mission is enabling us to improve our understanding of the weather circulation in the lower atmosphere, the mechanisms behind the upward transport of energy and particles, and the subsequent escape of atmospheric particles from the gravity of Mars.