Mars Space Probe Disappears

[norml]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/25/newsid_4004000/4004637.stm 2003: Mars space probe disappears
BBC News, UK - 58 minutes ago
... across - travelled to the red planet "piggyback" on the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter. All went well until the probe separated successfully from ...

2003: Mars space probe disappears
Scientists have failed to make contact with the British-built Mars probe, Beagle 2, which should have landed on the planet early today.
The £35m ($62m) spacecraft was scheduled to touch down at 0254 GMT after its seven-month flight to the Red Planet.

Beagle 2 must recharge its batteries on the day it lands or it will not survive the first night on Mars.

'Not the end of the world'

The Beagle project's lead scientist, Professor Colin Pillinger, told reporters "it's not the end of the world."

"Please don't go away from here believing we've lost the spacecraft," he said. "I'm afraid it's the usual England scenario - we're going to play extra time."

The tiny craft - less than a metre across - travelled to the red planet "piggyback" on the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter.

All went well until the probe separated successfully from its mother ship on 19 December to begin its descent to Mars.

Beagle 2's plunge through the planet's thin atmosphere is the most difficult part of the mission.

Missing call sign

Nasa's Mars Odyssey orbiter, which has been circling the planet since 2001, has been unable to pick up Beagle's call sign from the landing site.

A second attempt by the giant Jodrell Bank telescope, in Cheshire, has also been unsuccessful.

If nothing is heard from the Beagle 2 when the Nasa craft makes another pass over the landing site late tomorrow, hopes for its safe arrival will begin to fade.

Celebrity supporters

The Beagle 2 project was marked out from the start by its shoestring budget and tight deadlines.

Professor Pillinger of the Open University first drew the robot on the back of a beer mat in 1997. It has grabbed headlines ever since.

The project has attracted the support of celebrities such as pop group Blur, who composed Beagle 2's nine-note call sign, and Brit-artist Damien Hirst.

snip

[Sporadicus]

1. self deleted

[democracyindanger]

2. They put Halliburton in charge of it nt

[TacticalPeek]

3. They were warned.

Watch for flying sleigh and reindeer.

[pleiku52cab]

4. Currently the Huygens spacecraft

is ready to detatch from the Cassini mothership near Saturn. I think what you are talking about happened last year. That was a British venture.

[rocketdem]

6. Right -- Huygens

Huygens will detach and descend into the atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Huygens is also a European venture.

[leQ]

5. in 2003!!

.

[norml]

8. It was launched in 2003. It disappeared just over an hour ago.

It might show up again, or it might not.

[benburch]

9. Nope.

This all played out over a year ago!!!

Somehow this was reposted to google news in error.

[norml]

15. This thread, like the space probe, will soon disappear.

I was just in such a hurry to break some news, I didn't read in carefully.

[slutticus]

10. This happened last year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3344693.stm

[norml]

14. I realized that now, and have asked for a delete.

Google News had it as just happening, I thought.

[Pale Blue Dot]

7. Anyone have a read on Santa?

:scared:

[sam sarrha]

11. those damned Martians have no respect for other peoples property

[Heddi]

12. Totally not LBN

THis happened on Dec 25 2003....

You can even tell since the page that is linked to is titled "ON THIS DATE...2003...."

[norml]

13. Oops! Either Google News, or I must have made a mistake.

Why would Google News be doing this date in history stuff? I'll ask for a delete.