UAE Mars Mission
Designing the Digital Launch Experience for a Nation's Interplanetary Ambition
The Emirates Mars Mission, also known as the Hope Probe mission, was the United Arab Emirates' first interplanetary exploration project. Announced in 2014 and launched on 20 July 2020 from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, the mission successfully entered Mars orbit on 9 February 2021.
Years before launch, in 2015, I was involved in shaping one of its earliest public-facing touchpoints. The official digital experience.
This was not just a website.
It was the digital introduction of a national space ambition.
Context
The mission was led by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in collaboration with international partners including NASA and U.S. universities.
The objective was bold.
Reach Mars in time for the UAE's 50th anniversary.
The communication challenge was equally bold.
How do you explain a complex interplanetary mission to an entire nation and the global scientific community.
How do you translate orbital mechanics into inspiration.
How do you make space feel accessible.
My Involvement
In 2015, I was contacted directly by the Prime Minister's Office for participation in the digital pitch process. At the time, multiple agencies across the UAE were invited to propose the official online experience for the mission announcement and its evolving public presence.
Coincidentally, I was already engaged through an agency participating in the pitch. Our proposal was selected.
The work was coordinated from the Prime Minister's Office at Emirates Towers.
The Challenge
This was not a marketing microsite.
It needed to:
- Represent a sovereign national initiative
- Communicate scientific credibility
- Inspire youth and future engineers
- Serve global media
- Remain scalable from announcement to launch
It had to balance governmental authority with technological ambition.
Scope of Work
I led the design of the responsive, dynamic web experience from concept to launch phase.
The scope included:
- Information architecture for mission storytelling
- Responsive web design system
- Scientific content structuring
- Interactive mission timeline design
- Visual hierarchy for complex technical content
- Integration planning for future updates
- Contribution to broader communication materials
The website became a foundational digital touchpoint during the mission's public rollout.
Design Philosophy
1. Science Made Human
Orbital data and atmospheric studies are complex. The design translated them into digestible visual narratives. Mission objectives were structured into clear thematic sections: Science goals, Spacecraft overview, Timeline to Mars, and National vision. The goal was clarity without oversimplification.
2. Authority Through Simplicity
Government and scientific credibility require restraint. The interface design avoided trend-driven aesthetics. Instead, it focused on structured layouts, strong typographic hierarchy, balanced whitespace, and minimal but purposeful animation. The design needed longevity. Not novelty.
3. Responsive for Global Reach
From the outset, the platform was built as a fully responsive system. The experience needed to perform across desktop media coverage, mobile-first regional audiences, and international press references. The architecture allowed future content expansion as the mission progressed toward launch in 2020.
Collaboration Experience
Working on the UAE Mars Mission was one of the most defining professional experiences of my career.
The collaboration involved:
- Stakeholders from the Prime Minister's Office
- Scientists and engineers from Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
- International aerospace partners
- Agency strategists and communication teams
The alignment between national vision and technical precision was extraordinary.
Impact
The Emirates Mars Mission successfully launched in July 2020 and entered Mars orbit in February 2021, marking the UAE as the first Arab nation to reach Mars.
While my involvement was during the early public digital phase in 2015, contributing to the foundational communication experience remains one of the most meaningful milestones of my career.
This project represented:
- National significance
- International collaboration
- Scientific ambition
- Long-term digital infrastructure
Reflection
Designing for a space mission changes perspective.
You are no longer designing for conversion or engagement metrics.
You are designing for legacy.
The UAE Mars Mission demonstrated that digital experience design can serve not just users, but history.
It remains one of the proudest chapters of my professional journey.