spacetoday.net: Mars Express fails to detect Beagle 2

Posted: Wed, Jan 7, 2004, 1:34 PM ET (1834 GMT)
Beagle 2 lander illustration (Beagle 2)

A first attempt by ESA's Mars Express orbiter to detect signals from the British-built Beagle 2 lander turned up nothing on Wednesday. Mars Express performed a close pass over the predicted landing site, passing just 315 kilometers from where the lander should be. However, the orbiter was unable to detect any signals that should be coming from the lander should it be working properly. Previous efforts to detect the lander by NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft as well as groundbased radio telescopes had also come up empty. ESA science director David Southwood called the non-detection a "setback" but added that "we have many more shots to play." Mars Express will make several more attempts over the coming days to try to establish contact with the lander. Beagle 2 project director said that Mars Express may shut off its transmitter if its efforts to contact the lander don’t succeed by January 22, but groundbased detection efforts could continue into February.