|
|
| World Home » Current Affairs » | Thu. Nov 20, 2008 |
 |
|
|
||||||
|
British Scientists plan another mission to Mars MIL, Nov 5, 2004. Special Correspondent London - The scientists, who were behind the Beagle 2 mission to Mars, have unveiled designs for a successor to the British spacecraft. They have chalked out a new plan of establishing a new robotic lab on Mars. The team has proposed that two landing spacecraft shall be launched from an orbiter in 2009 as part of Europe's Aurora program of space exploration. In this connection, Professor Colin Pillinger, the lead scientist on last year's venture, said he was planning to make a presentation to the European Space Agency (ESA). "This is us putting our cap in the ring," he said. The new design was unveiled a day after a report into the financial loss surrounding Beagle 2 criticized the Government for failing to commit funding at the start and for not monitoring its progress. Beagle 2 was designed to search for signs of life on Mars using sophisticated instruments but the plan did not click at the last moment after touching the soil. It cost about £42.5m for which there is no regret according to the people. The taxpayers believe that efforts were made honestly and it was due to some technical or reasons beyond control that the lander failed to make contact after it was scheduled to touch down Mars on Christmas Day. According to Independent News, scientists have remained optimistic about Beagle 2's successor. The aim of the new mission is to demonstrate the ability to land on Mars before sending a robotic rover as part of ESA's ExoMars project. Scientists have also enforced a number of key changes in the design of the craft so as to remove it possible flaws in the new design.
|
 |
|
Applelounge Network (Website Design India, Web Design India) Sites |