The UAE space probe goes into orbit around Mars

The United Arab Emirates’ Hope probe successfully made it into orbit around Mars on Tuesday, vaulting the Arab nation into an elite class of space-faring nations. The UAE is now the fifth nation or space agency to operate an orbiter around Mars. The spacecraft is now expected to study the planet’s weather conditions and thin atmosphere for about two years.

China’s Tianwen-1 mission is expected to make its attempt to orbit Mars on Thursday and NASA’s Perseverance rover is scheduled to land on the Red Planet next week.