In pictures: First Arab space mission to Mars launches from Japan

In Dubai, the launch was met with rapturous excitement and blanket media coverage.
AFP 20 Jul, 2020

The first Arab space mission to Mars, an unmanned probe dubbed “Hope”, blasted off from Japan on Monday on a mission to reveal more about the atmosphere of the Red Planet.

The Japanese rocket carrying the probe developed by the United Arab Emirates lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan right on schedule at 6:58am local time.

An hour later, a live feed showed people applauding in the Japanese control room as the probe successfully detached.

In Dubai, the launch was met with rapturous excitement and blanket media coverage, with the Burj Khalifa — the world's tallest skyscraper — lit up hours before liftoff with a symbolic 10 second countdown in anticipation.

A picture taken on July 19, shows Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in support of the United Arab Emirates “Hope” Mars probe, ahead of it's expected launch from Japan. — AFP
A picture taken on July 19, shows Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in support of the United Arab Emirates “Hope” Mars probe, ahead of it's expected launch from Japan. — AFP

In this handout photograph taken and released on July 20, an H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe blasts off from Tanegashima Space Centre in southwestern Japan. — AFP
In this handout photograph taken and released on July 20, an H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe blasts off from Tanegashima Space Centre in southwestern Japan. — AFP

A picture taken on July 19, hows a screen broadcasting the launch of the “Hope” Mars probe at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. — AFP
A picture taken on July 19, hows a screen broadcasting the launch of the “Hope” Mars probe at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. — AFP

In this handout photograph taken and released on July 20, Sarah al-Amiri (L), Minister of State for Advanced Sciences of United Arab Emirates and Naohiko Abe (R), Senior Vice President, Head of Integrated Defence and Space Systems of MHI celebrate the success of the H-2A rocket launch at the Tanegashima Space Centre in southwestern Japan. — AFP
In this handout photograph taken and released on July 20, Sarah al-Amiri (L), Minister of State for Advanced Sciences of United Arab Emirates and Naohiko Abe (R), Senior Vice President, Head of Integrated Defence and Space Systems of MHI celebrate the success of the H-2A rocket launch at the Tanegashima Space Centre in southwestern Japan. — AFP

An H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, lifts off from the launching pad at Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. — Reuters
An H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, lifts off from the launching pad at Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. — Reuters

An H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, rises into the air after blasting off from the launching pad at Tanegashima Space Center on the southwestern island of Tanegashima, Japan. — Reuters
An H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, rises into the air after blasting off from the launching pad at Tanegashima Space Center on the southwestern island of Tanegashima, Japan. — Reuters

An Emirati man prepares to watch the launch of the Hope Probe at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in Dubai on July 20. — AP
An Emirati man prepares to watch the launch of the Hope Probe at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in Dubai on July 20. — AP

An Emirati man wipes a tear away with his face mask while watching the launch of the “Amal” or “Hope” space probe at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in Dubai. — AP
An Emirati man wipes a tear away with his face mask while watching the launch of the “Amal” or “Hope” space probe at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in Dubai. — AP

Header image: An Emirati walks past a screen displaying the “Hope” Mars probe at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai on July 19. — AFP

Comments (88) Closed
Furrukh Rao
Jul 20, 2020 05:40pm
Not a good Idea at all.
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PeaceOfSelf
Jul 20, 2020 05:56pm
@Furrukh Rao maybe MIDDLE-EAST's U.A.E based oil economy is planning invest in Sweet Crude oil at MARS.just incase demand on earth slumps even lower.
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Morning Star
Jul 20, 2020 05:56pm
Hiring scientist and technologies.. and then build the tallest building on Mars
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Ali
Jul 20, 2020 06:02pm
True progress would be if they had launched it from an indigenous rocket.
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bhaRAT©
Jul 20, 2020 06:04pm
@Morning Star , Just like India did.
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bhaRAT©
Jul 20, 2020 06:07pm
@Morning Star , All missile and space technology came from Western nations even for India.
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Tamilselvan
Jul 20, 2020 06:14pm
Congratulations to the people of UAE in their quest to send a prove to Mars. One has to crawl before one walks. Seeking help from other countries and in so doing getting trained and experience is part of learning process. India too went through these steps. Our Namastes and Salam to your Emir and your scientists . You are showing the rest of Islamic world that science and traditions can complement and the head of your space department is headed by a female scientist which shows you take talent whoever has them. Great.
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M. Saeed
Jul 20, 2020 06:16pm
This is the start of a hundred year space program of the UAE. But, who has seen 100 years?
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Umair
Jul 20, 2020 06:34pm
Great work, UAE. Congrats and all the best.
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Jawwad
Jul 20, 2020 06:34pm
What UAE mission? They are only funding the cost and but have no technical and scientific expertise in launching the mission. It is same as buying products from another country and labeling it as your own.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
Jul 20, 2020 06:34pm
A great example of using somebody else's shoulder to fire your rifle.
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momtaz
Jul 20, 2020 06:35pm
Congratulation from Malaysia
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M. Emad
Jul 20, 2020 06:36pm
“Hope” : 99% money = UAE. “Hope” : 99% brainpower & manpower = Foreigners.
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Ahmed
Jul 20, 2020 06:37pm
Please develop on your own to prosper.you have money to do that.but,lack in good minds.please develop some good scientist and dream about the space.
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naqi
Jul 20, 2020 06:38pm
They should have invested on education and equality within UAE instead of having a trip to Mars. What good have UAE done for the current world anyway? Just cashing out oil that occurred naturally to their country and investing in becoming world tourism hub. They still have pathetic labor laws, and law for minorities/immigrants.
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Salman
Jul 20, 2020 06:40pm
India could have done the same job much cheaper then japan...
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Sunil
Jul 20, 2020 07:00pm
Good start. At least they are venturing into scientific missions. Good for them.
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Manish
Jul 20, 2020 07:01pm
@bhaRAT©, if you copy technology of China then it doesn't mean whole World os a copy cat.
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Nikus Kumar Giri
Jul 20, 2020 07:10pm
Have they built ground station in UAE, or like rocket, the satellite will be also controlled from Japan?
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Mani From India
Jul 20, 2020 07:14pm
Congratulation Japan! From India with love.
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KDP
Jul 20, 2020 07:28pm
Hire westerners Arabs can do anything just like oil exploration. They did not even know they had oil under their land. Americans made them rich
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Jp
Jul 20, 2020 07:36pm
Well done UAE, congratulations.
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aslam khan
Jul 20, 2020 07:47pm
UAE paid other countries to send the probe. What's there to celebrate when money can buy anything these days.
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Reader
Jul 20, 2020 08:00pm
@Salman, Yes, but I don't think Indian technology is anywhere near Japan's.
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Paulson George
Jul 20, 2020 08:01pm
Congrats and welcome to the club of USA,RUSSIA,EU and INDIA.Lets explore the Mars.
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Changez Khan
Jul 20, 2020 08:04pm
Are they going there to explore Oil and Gas?
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kp
Jul 20, 2020 08:09pm
Engineers and scientists are foreigners, Manufacturing done abroad, launched from japan. UAE just invested the money. Even though its good. Congratulations
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Ahmad
Jul 20, 2020 08:15pm
Can we solve problems on earth before going to a new planet ?
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Square Cutter
Jul 20, 2020 08:26pm
Great job! -- good news for the whole world -- human focus on sciences and knowledge about our planet and our universe will help in sustained development of all of us as human beings.
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PrasadDeccani
Jul 20, 2020 08:28pm
Hearty congratulations to the Arab world. Keep up the good work and, continue to 'Hope' from time to time.
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Fazal Karim
Jul 20, 2020 08:33pm
Congratulation Japan for improving its expertise in technology at the cost of UAE.
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MA
Jul 20, 2020 08:35pm
@Furrukh Rao, why would that be ?
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MA
Jul 20, 2020 08:36pm
Great work
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El Cid
Jul 20, 2020 09:00pm
@bhaRAT©, Yes, and much of it stolen!
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Attorney Tausif Kamal
Jul 20, 2020 09:36pm
Great vision and "Hope" by UAE rulers...this is how Muslim nations must rule & move forward and stuck in medieval times, like our own country and its rulers
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Zeeshan Ahmed
Jul 20, 2020 09:37pm
Congratulations to the people and leadership of UAE, a beacon of prosperity and stability in a volatile region, a country that has created opportunities for millions from other countries.
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kumar
Jul 20, 2020 09:42pm
@Reader, India already has a satellite circling Mars. Congrats to UAE to join the club!
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Human
Jul 20, 2020 09:44pm
All those millions of dollars spent on this venture could have been spent on human development. We have people who don't have enough to eat. We have people who don't have roof to live under. We have people who want to replace in them the darkness of illiteracy with the light of education. Mars is never designed for humans to live on. Why not make our Earth a better place?
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Usuk Melun
Jul 20, 2020 09:53pm
@bhaRAT©, actually its the opposite of what you say...as always!
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Truthseeker
Jul 20, 2020 11:08pm
a small stepping stone kept to build a big building of tomorrow... Congrats for your wise thinking and start in the direction of science and technology.. this steps will motivate many of UAE nationals to do good..
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Jp
Jul 20, 2020 11:44pm
@Square Cutter, And UAE will on list of successful countries reached Mar. What a clever way. Well done.
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Parth
Jul 21, 2020 12:12am
@Salman, Launch of outer space satellites work in windows. Earth, Sun, etc. are not stationary and don't move in circles. The windows are decided as per payload, fuel, etc. You might have seen ISRO launches satellites during certain periods of the year.
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Chaigram
Jul 21, 2020 12:26am
Better then building concrete structures. Money well spent.
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Ga
Jul 21, 2020 12:30am
Mars will now have its very own glitzy shopping mall now.
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Nazir Gilani
Jul 21, 2020 01:29am
@Salman, ... One gets what he pays for.
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Nazir Gilani
Jul 21, 2020 01:31am
@Mani From India, .... No online newspaper in India?
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Nazir Gilani
Jul 21, 2020 01:34am
@Reader, ... So true. Japanese surgeons can operate on a patient in Pakistan from Japan through the use of 5G technology and their advanced robotics.
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Nazir Gilani
Jul 21, 2020 01:36am
@El Cid, ... True. I worked for two companies the Japanese trading companies stole technology from.
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ajay
Jul 21, 2020 01:38am
Arabs are brainless rich.. can spend money but cant do on their own.
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Nazir Gilani
Jul 21, 2020 01:38am
@kumar, ......... How many satellites does the USA have in orbit?
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Pathanoo
Jul 21, 2020 02:14am
Emiratis celebrate but the Japanese are the true beneficiaries.
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Pathanoo
Jul 21, 2020 02:15am
The only thing "Arab" about the missile is that the Emirates paid for it.
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Ghiasu Haq
Jul 21, 2020 02:20am
Good. Congratulation. But is it not a dependant technology. A small rocket only up in the air a few miles but totally produced at home with all its components, would be a major breakthrough forward in rocket technology compared to this one . Let us hope that this joint venture (money from UAE and Technology from Japan) will have a big component of solid, meaningful and visible transfer of technology to UAE.
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Mickey
Jul 21, 2020 02:23am
Congratulations to our sisters and brothers in UAE from India !
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Sher Jang Gilgit-Baltistan
Jul 21, 2020 02:27am
Commencement towards a more refined, dignified and quality way of life. Congratulation for the task accomplished!!!!
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Zaib S.
Jul 21, 2020 03:14am
@Salman, yes carrying the rocket on bull cart with Gao-mutar for fuel. cost-saving indeed.
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Ibrahim S
Jul 21, 2020 03:25am
@Truthseeker, a wrong corner stone doesn’t make a building right . What part of technology came from UAE beside money. It’s was not even launched from Middle East.
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Qbmx
Jul 21, 2020 04:25am
well done Japan
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Qbmx
Jul 21, 2020 04:25am
Congratulations Japan. see you on Mars
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Toni
Jul 21, 2020 04:37am
... and then what, send expat to work on Mars?
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Toni
Jul 21, 2020 04:38am
@Salman, yes they spent $20m more!
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vijay
Jul 21, 2020 05:38am
Congratulations to UAE.
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Dinesh
Jul 21, 2020 07:02am
@Reader, India sent its rocket to mars at the first attempt, Japan didn’t.
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Dinesh
Jul 21, 2020 07:06am
Well done Japan. Say hello to Mangalyaan.
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BreakingTheFilterBubble
Jul 21, 2020 07:20am
Everyone has to start somewhere. Not sure if Japan was able to offer a better price or there were political compulsions. Regardless, fellow Indians dissing this need to back off. Scientific thinking and the spirit of exploration is worth encouraging and will benefit all of humanity. I wish the article had more details on the satellites payload, though.
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Anas Sardar
Jul 21, 2020 07:27am
@bhaRAT©, Fyi the NASA scientists trained in Bangalore for their Mars mission
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Anas Sardar
Jul 21, 2020 07:27am
Indians are pioneers of the Mars mission
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asad
Jul 21, 2020 08:00am
@bhaRAT©, I am afraid you didn't get it. Its sarcasm mate!
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Tiger
Jul 21, 2020 08:35am
Rich Arabs should focus on building institutions to produce scientists. They are just burning all their wealth in creating skyscrapers. I don’t consider this success by any mean.
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Atul Singh
Jul 21, 2020 09:55am
@bhaRAT©, Jealous
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Noor Khan
Jul 21, 2020 10:10am
if some nations with significant population beyond poverty line can try why they can't, as at least their situation is way better. good move if they could succeed.
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JustSaying
Jul 21, 2020 10:14am
Now even the Arabs are moving ahead of Pakistan....
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Imran Sayyad
Jul 21, 2020 10:18am
Good to know in brain , but heart says... what people dying of famine would feel, thinking of that much money !! I dont know how to justify the priority world choose to spend money. and i dont like to know in future if same country going to borrow loan because of recession. (Most of the gulf countries about to take load in upcoming years)
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Abbu Ahmed
Jul 21, 2020 10:36am
Finally, they will get to know, earth is not flat.
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hassan
Jul 21, 2020 11:10am
Except for money, what else is UAE's contribution to this Mars mission?
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Kristen
Jul 21, 2020 11:25am
If Pakistan had focussed on science education,then this launch could have been from Pakistan.. Alas, it has other priorities.
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Sultan
Jul 21, 2020 11:46am
More than money UAE has vision....Pakistanis dont get it!
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Rafi
Jul 21, 2020 11:55am
Great Step by step forward Well done UAE BUT what is objective?
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Monsieur
Jul 21, 2020 12:03pm
@Reader, Indian technology sent a mission to Mars at half the price. For your information.
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Monsieur
Jul 21, 2020 12:05pm
Amazing to see how the ignorance in Pakistan seems to conclude that Indians are as ignorant as themselves. Maybe a look at the CEOs of the major enterprises internationally should give a clue
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Furrukh Rao
Jul 21, 2020 04:29pm
@MA, Electricity and water Issues in Dubai are more Important, Roads are flooded.
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Altaf Noor Ali
Jul 21, 2020 04:32pm
Good. Wish it success!
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Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Jul 21, 2020 05:13pm
Hearty congratulations.
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Hamid Shafiq
Jul 21, 2020 05:42pm
Waste of money
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Syed Irfan
Jul 21, 2020 06:51pm
Kudos to the UAE and its visionary leadership.
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JustSaying
Jul 21, 2020 09:32pm
Can the Muslim World do Something (Which Benefits Humanity) on their own..??? Stop Standing on someone else's Shoulders..
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Prakash J
Jul 21, 2020 10:27pm
The ticket could be American made, Japan launched, but for UAE it's the right direction to go in. Sometime not too distant in future they'll have their own salahiyat built.
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Shaukat
Jul 22, 2020 12:18am
@Umair, Could you tell me what great work UAE did scientifically beside spending money, for them Arabs, this is like a firework celebration and when they get the Data for their money they would not know what it is and what to do with it and again they have to spend MORE money to be explained by their master in the West what the heck they have got. They bought everything but the money which they have and you can not buy the money with the money.
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