News Archive

Wednesday, November 3, 2004 Britain Prepares Beagle 3 Lander Artist's conception of Beagle 2: Evolution descending. Credit: Unknown (BBC) Britain is preparing a new Beagle lander as a replacement for the failed Beagle 2. To be included as part of the ESA's Aurora program and as a precursor to the ExoMars project, it will be called "Beagle 2: Evolution" and will not simply be a copy of the original lander. Featuring a new airbag system, advanced solar panels that need only half the surface area of the old ones, 60% more battery life, and possibly a direct-communications antenna to contact Earth during descent and perhaps afterwards, it will be a significant improvement over the old lander. And "it" is a misnomer, as two of them will be launched and dropped onto the surface of Mars, similar to the ongoing Mars Exploration Rovers. (More info: BBC) @ 18:46 EST