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19/05/2003
UK's key role in ESA Mars mission hailed
UK industry and scientific know-how is playing a key role in the search for life on the red planet.
Science Minister Lord Sainsbury today said that UK engineering and scientific expertise was essential to Europe's historic mission to find life on Mars.
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express orbiter and the UK-led Beagle 2 lander will blast-off from a launch pad in Kazakhstan on June 2. The mission, which is scheduled to reach the Red Planet by Christmas, could finally solve the mystery of whether life exists on Mars.
Lord Sainsbury hailed the UK's science community and more than 60 British companies involved in the development and construction of the Beagle 2 lander.
Speaking at the Royal Society, he said: "This is a testament to the UK's strengths in engineering and world-class scientific expertise. With the experience gained and skills acquired through working on Beagle 2, UK firms have reinforced their reputation as sought-after partners in international projects."
The Mars Express spacecraft, part of ESA's Horizons 2000 programme, is designed to take a payload of seven state-of-the-art scientific instruments to orbit Mars as well as the Beagle 2 lander.
The orbiter instruments will record data for at least one Martian year, or 687 Earth days – Beagle 2 is designed to work for 180 Earth days. The satellite will also carry a data relay system for communicating with Earth, including the transfer of command and science data to and from Beagle 2.
The lander will be ejected from the orbiter and parachute down to the surface of the planet. On touchdown, it will deploy its robotic arm and paw which includes a mole to burrow into the ground and collect soil samples. These will be analysed for signs of past and present biological activity using a gas analysis package developed by Professor Colin Pillinger's team at the Open University.
The lander is also packing a suite of instruments that will take pictures, acquire geological information and study the weather, including temperature, pressure and wind.
(GMcG)
Science Minister Lord Sainsbury today said that UK engineering and scientific expertise was essential to Europe's historic mission to find life on Mars.
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express orbiter and the UK-led Beagle 2 lander will blast-off from a launch pad in Kazakhstan on June 2. The mission, which is scheduled to reach the Red Planet by Christmas, could finally solve the mystery of whether life exists on Mars.
Lord Sainsbury hailed the UK's science community and more than 60 British companies involved in the development and construction of the Beagle 2 lander.
Speaking at the Royal Society, he said: "This is a testament to the UK's strengths in engineering and world-class scientific expertise. With the experience gained and skills acquired through working on Beagle 2, UK firms have reinforced their reputation as sought-after partners in international projects."
The Mars Express spacecraft, part of ESA's Horizons 2000 programme, is designed to take a payload of seven state-of-the-art scientific instruments to orbit Mars as well as the Beagle 2 lander.
The orbiter instruments will record data for at least one Martian year, or 687 Earth days – Beagle 2 is designed to work for 180 Earth days. The satellite will also carry a data relay system for communicating with Earth, including the transfer of command and science data to and from Beagle 2.
The lander will be ejected from the orbiter and parachute down to the surface of the planet. On touchdown, it will deploy its robotic arm and paw which includes a mole to burrow into the ground and collect soil samples. These will be analysed for signs of past and present biological activity using a gas analysis package developed by Professor Colin Pillinger's team at the Open University.
The lander is also packing a suite of instruments that will take pictures, acquire geological information and study the weather, including temperature, pressure and wind.
(GMcG)
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19 December 2003
Beagle 2 lander separates from orbiter module
The European Space Operations Centre has confirmed that the Beagle 2 lander successfully separated from the orbiter at around 11.15GMT on Friday December 19. The ESA announced that the Mars Express spacecraft had "flawlessly released" the Beagle 2 lander that it has been carrying since its launch on June 2 this year.
Beagle 2 lander separates from orbiter module
The European Space Operations Centre has confirmed that the Beagle 2 lander successfully separated from the orbiter at around 11.15GMT on Friday December 19. The ESA announced that the Mars Express spacecraft had "flawlessly released" the Beagle 2 lander that it has been carrying since its launch on June 2 this year.
02 June 2003
Mars Express set to make European first
With final checks underway, the first venture to Mars by the European Space Agency (ESA) is due to launch later today. Constructed on a shoestring budget, the spacecraft, which includes the British-built Mars lander Beagle 2, has been built in record time.
Mars Express set to make European first
With final checks underway, the first venture to Mars by the European Space Agency (ESA) is due to launch later today. Constructed on a shoestring budget, the spacecraft, which includes the British-built Mars lander Beagle 2, has been built in record time.
24 May 2004
Organisational problems dogged Beagle 2 failure: report
The failure of the UK-led Beagle 2 mission to Mars was largely due to organisational problems, according to a report. The European Space Agency (ESA) said that there was "no single technical failure or shortcoming" unambiguously responsible, but a few "credible causes" for Beagle 2’s loss were highlighted.
Organisational problems dogged Beagle 2 failure: report
The failure of the UK-led Beagle 2 mission to Mars was largely due to organisational problems, according to a report. The European Space Agency (ESA) said that there was "no single technical failure or shortcoming" unambiguously responsible, but a few "credible causes" for Beagle 2’s loss were highlighted.
07 January 2004
Mars Express fails to raise Beagle 2
Attempts by the Mars Express orbiter to raise the silent Beagle 2 lander have met with no success today, confirmed the European Space Agency (Esa) team in Germany.
Mars Express fails to raise Beagle 2
Attempts by the Mars Express orbiter to raise the silent Beagle 2 lander have met with no success today, confirmed the European Space Agency (Esa) team in Germany.
05 January 2004
Scientists hopeful of contacting Beagle
As the Mars Express orbiter nears its final low orbit trajectory around Mars, Wednesday January 7 marks what is considered to be the final chance to establish contact with the Beagle 2 lander.
Scientists hopeful of contacting Beagle
As the Mars Express orbiter nears its final low orbit trajectory around Mars, Wednesday January 7 marks what is considered to be the final chance to establish contact with the Beagle 2 lander.
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