spacetoday.net: Beagle 2 could have landed in crater

Posted: Mon, Dec 29, 2003, 11:04 AM ET (1604 GMT)
Beagle 2 lander illustration (Beagle 2)

Beagle 2 project officials raised the possibility Monday that the spacecraft may have landed in a crater that has blocked previous attempts to communicate with the Earth. Images of the landing site in the Isidis Planitia region of the planet, taken by Mars Global Surveyor on Thursday, reveal a crater similar in size to Meteor Crater in Arizona in the center of the landing area. Project scientist Colin Pillinger said it would be "incredibly unlucky" if the spacecraft landed there, but while such a landing would be unlikely, they have not ruled out a landing there. If the spacecraft did set down in the crater, it could explain the lack of communications received from the spacecraft since its landing early Thursday. Officials are now pinning their hopes on Mars Express, the ESA orbiter that will be in position January 4 to attempt communications with the lander, which by that time will be in a contingency mode where it transmits a beacon throughout daylight hours.