While, in the United States, NASA’s plans to go to Mars are in financial trouble, other nations seem to be stepping up their own goals for the Red Planet. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Space Agency has finally announced its plans to send a probe to Mars. The “Al Amal” (which means Hope in Arabic) Probe is set to reach the Mars’ orbit by 2021, which is the 50th anniversary of the UAE’s independence.

“The objectives of the mission are to build highly qualified UAE human resources in the field of space technology, to develop knowledge, scientific research and space applications that benefit mankind, to create a sustainable knowledge-based economy, to promote diversification and encourage innovation,” the announcement said.