Which among the following became the first Arab Nation to launch the Mars Mission in July, 2020?

1. A

   Saudi Arabia

   (a) Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom had space plans but did not launch the first Arab Mars mission in July 2020.

2. B

   Kuwait

   (b) Kuwait. Kuwait was not the July 2020 Mars-launch state.

3. C

   United Arab Emirates

   (c) United Arab Emirates. The UAE’s Hope (Al-Amal) probe lifted off on 19 July 2020 from Tanegashima (Japan), the first Arab Mars mission. Official key.

4. D

   Qatar

   (d) Qatar. Qatar did not fly a Mars orbiter in July 2020.

Summary. Official key is (c) United Arab Emirates. Hope Probe was the first interplanetary mission by an Arab country, launched July 2020 during the Mars window, reaching orbit in February 2021. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar are Gulf neighbours without that 2020 Mars launch. China’s Tianwen-1 and NASA’s Perseverance shared the same window.