In a landmark decision announced Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates Space Agency has officially extended its groundbreaking Emirates Mars Mission through 2028, adding three additional years to the Hope Probe’s extraordinary scientific journey. The announcement was delivered by Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, with the full endorsement of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Space Council.
The extension comes following a comprehensive technical evaluation that confirmed the spacecraft remains in optimal condition after five years of operation—far exceeding its original two-year design lifespan. The Hope Probe, which achieved the historic distinction of making the UAE the fifth nation to reach Mars and the second to succeed on its first attempt during the COVID-19 pandemic, has delivered scientific returns that have dramatically surpassed expectations.
Dr. Noora Al Saeed, Principal Investigator of the mission, highlighted the probe’s remarkable accomplishments, including its recent serendipitous observations of Comet C/2023 A3 (Atlas)—only the third-known interstellar object discovered passing through our solar system. The probe captured detailed imagery of volatile gases ejecting from the comet as it approached the sun, providing scientists with unprecedented access to material from another star system.
Since entering Martian orbit in 2021, the spacecraft has compiled a comprehensive catalogue of Martian dust storms throughout an entire Martian year, revealed unexpected complex structures in the planet’s upper atmosphere, and captured the highest-resolution images ever obtained of Mars’ mysterious moon Deimos. The mission has collected over 10 terabytes of data—ten times its original target—all shared openly with the global scientific community through 16 data releases.
The extended operational period will enable researchers to gather additional Martian years of data, with Dr. Al Saeed noting that ‘every additional Mars year of data that we get is going to unlock hundreds of years of research.’ The mission will now focus on deciphering the complex atmospheric connections between Mars’ lower and upper atmospheres, with findings expected to enhance atmospheric modeling not only for the Red Planet but also for Earth.
Beyond its scientific achievements, the mission has catalyzed a significant national transformation, with STEM enrollment increasing by 31% between 2020 and 2025. The program has generated over 35 scientific publications, facilitated more than 250 participations in international conferences, and trained 58 Emirati students through university research programs. Originally launched during the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, the mission has transformed the nation from a consumer to a producer of scientific knowledge, with its findings now informing future space exploration initiatives including the UAE’s planned asteroid belt exploration project.