Cairo Tower, the tallest structure in Egypt and North Africa, was lit up in red on Tuesday evening to celebrate the arrival of the United Arab Emirates’ Hope Probe to Mars (Photo courtesy Al-Ahram Arabic news website)
Cairo Tower, the tallest structure in Egypt and North Africa, was lit up in red on Tuesday evening to celebrate the arrival of the United Arab Emirates’ Hope Probe to Mars, making it the first Arab country to reach the red planet.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi hailed the step, describing it as an “unprecedented” step in scientific research, according to a statement released by the Presidential Spokesperson, Bassam Rady, late on Tuesday.
“[The step] heralds a major scientific boom in the Arab region,” El-Sisi added.
He congratulated the UAE’s leadership and people for the successful scientific experience that aims to explore new horizons in space.
A spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates swung into orbit around Mars on Tuesday, ending its seven-month long, 300-million-mile journey.
The spacecraft’s mission is to gather detailed data on Mars’ atmosphere.
The UAE has become the fifth country in history to reach Mars, an international and Arab breakthrough, as the planet has been the graveyard for a multitude of missions from various countries.
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