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Scientists examine mysterious images for clues to fate of Beagle 2 [update]
AP via AJC ^ | 03/09/04 | JANE WARDELL

Posted on 03/09/2004 8:23:36 AM PST by optimistically_conservative

LONDON -- European scientists said Monday they are examining an image of its Beagle 2 Mars lander, taken moments after it separated from its mothership and later was lost, that also shows an unidentified object.

The mysterious blot on the photograph is being scrutinized as one of several potential reasons for the failure of the mission — Europe's first attempt to land a probe on the Red Planet.

Mission controllers said they were also considering the possibility that Beagle 2 simply crashed onto the surface of Mars because its atmosphere was less dense than expected.

Scientists said they are examining photographs of the landing site that show four bright spots, dubbed the "string of pearls," that might be the remains of Beagle 2.

Beagle 2 has not been heard from since it was ejected from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter in mid-December. The 143-pound probe did not respond to scheduled attempts to contact it on Dec. 25 and has remained silent ever since.

Mission controllers admitted defeat last month after repeated attempts at communication and last-ditch changes to programming.

Mark Sims, Beagle 2 mission manager, showed fellow scientists an image of the lander as it spun away from Mars Express, depicting both a bright spot in the shade of the side of the lander and an entirely separate object.

Sims said the image was still being analyzed to determine whether the marks are significant or simply a result of the imaging process.

"The bright object and the glint on the side of Beagle 2 may be nothing, they may be everything," Sims said.

Sims added that the "string of pearls" images may also simply show artifacts of the imaging process.

One theory about the missing probe gaining credence is that Mars' atmosphere was not as dense as expected — so Beagle 2 may simply have been going too fast for its parachute and air bags to ensure a soft landing.

That idea is supported by evidence from NASA, which also reported a less-dense atmosphere than expected on the entry of its first rover, Spirit, on Jan. 3. NASA succeeded in getting its vehicle down safely because of Spirit's multiple chutes and robust air bag system.

Both the U.S. and European missions were devised to look for geologic evidence that Mars was once a wetter place that might have been hospitable to life.

While the NASA mission was aimed entirely at landing Spirit and its companion, Opportunity, on Mars, the British-built Beagle 2 was not the focus of the ESA's mission. Instead, it was to get its Mars Express into orbit around the planet.

"The first lesson we can learn is that landing on Mars is difficult enough if you have a dedicated mission," said Colin Pillinger, the lead scientist on the expedition. "It's even more difficult if you have a mission where you are a hitchhiker on someone else's ride."

Beagle 2 controllers had little choice about the timing or location of the probe's descent onto Mars. Both were determined by the trajectory of Mars Express.

Images of the landing site have revealed that there were more hazards in the area — including craters and dust storms — than anticipated.

There were also huge funding differences between the European and British projects. NASA's cost $820 million, while the ESA joint project cost just over $370 million.

Pillinger is already searching for more funds and sponsorship for a revival of Beagle 2. He wants another mission sending more than one probe to Mars as early as 2007.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: beagle2; mars
Astronomers Holding Thumbs In Beagle Search (Beagle-2 Found?)

Beagle 2 Entered Mars 'Too Fast'

UFO? First time I saw this.

1 posted on 03/09/2004 8:23:36 AM PST by optimistically_conservative
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To: optimistically_conservative
The less dense atmosphere I think might have been the problem. As I recall, Opportunity only felt some 3 or 4 gees of impact force when it hit the ground, and it apparently was released only a few feet off the ground, instead of up to 40 feet. This tells me (I am probably off my rocker) that the atmosphere was quite a bit less dense than anticipated, so it was traveling faster at its terminal velocity with the chute deployed, so when the retro's finally stopped its motion, it was alot closer to the ground than anticipated. And this was AFTER they had adjusted things based on Spirits landing data..
2 posted on 03/09/2004 8:31:04 AM PST by Paradox (In the future, everyone will be Hitler for 15 minutes.)
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To: optimistically_conservative
>Scientists examine mysterious images for clues to fate of Beagle 2 [update]

Here is a pic of that mysterious images just outside the Beagle lander and airbags.

3 posted on 03/09/2004 8:31:51 AM PST by Dialup Llama
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To: Dialup Llama
Could be that that's what trees look like on Mars...Or, if you can spot a Montgomery Wards Catalog, it could be a Martian outhouse...
4 posted on 03/09/2004 8:53:17 AM PST by Iscool
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To: Phil V.
ping
5 posted on 03/09/2004 9:00:04 AM PST by farmfriend ( Isaiah 55:10,11)
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To: Chris Talk
Thoughts?
6 posted on 03/09/2004 9:02:21 AM PST by realpatriot71 ("A Republic, madam, if you can keep it" - Ben Franklin, 1787)
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To: Dialup Llama
LOL, do you think they moving here?
7 posted on 03/09/2004 9:03:10 AM PST by optimistically_conservative (If consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds, John F. Kerry’s mind must be freaking enormous. T.B.)
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To: optimistically_conservative
an unidentified object.

Oh great ... the 'UFO' conspiracy industry must have been slowing down ...

8 posted on 03/09/2004 9:04:18 AM PST by _Jim ( <--- Ann C. and Rush L. speak on gutless Liberals (RealAudio files))
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To: _Jim
I wonder if they can come up with some Bush plot to ensure we landed first? A sinister "Bush UFO at fault for Europe's failure" story should get good traction in Europe.
9 posted on 03/09/2004 9:07:47 AM PST by optimistically_conservative (If consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds, John F. Kerry’s mind must be freaking enormous. T.B.)
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To: Iscool

10 posted on 03/09/2004 9:11:58 AM PST by ASA Vet ("Anyone who signed up after 11/28/97 is a newbie")
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To: optimistically_conservative
Shhh! It's a US oil rig.
11 posted on 03/09/2004 9:14:36 AM PST by Lady Jag (It's in the bag)
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To: Iscool
>Could be that that's what trees look like on Mars...Or, if you can spot a Montgomery Wards Catalog, it could be a Martian outhouse...

Got Monolith?

12 posted on 03/09/2004 9:18:18 AM PST by Dialup Llama
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To: ASA Vet
That's a good one...Hate to be the guy working in the basement...
13 posted on 03/09/2004 10:07:58 AM PST by Iscool
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To: optimistically_conservative
A sinister "Bush UFO at fault for Europe's failure" story should get good traction in Europe.

LOL!

I wonder if one of the tabloids in the UK would oblige us with 'polling' on that subject?

14 posted on 03/09/2004 10:11:02 AM PST by _Jim ( <--- Ann C. and Rush L. speak on gutless Liberals (RealAudio files))
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To: optimistically_conservative
. . . an unidentified object . . .

Could be the dog house.


15 posted on 03/09/2004 10:23:10 AM PST by LibWhacker
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To: _Jim
I think I'd lean toward FReeping that poll as absolutely true! Kind of a Nuke the Moon strategy.
16 posted on 03/09/2004 10:29:50 AM PST by optimistically_conservative (If consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds, John F. Kerry’s mind must be freaking enormous. T.B.)
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To: optimistically_conservative
Automated aerospace defense system leftover from the final Martian war.
17 posted on 03/09/2004 10:32:09 AM PST by Junior (No animals were harmed in the making of this post)
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To: Junior
Ehhhhhh, could be ....


18 posted on 03/09/2004 10:58:58 AM PST by optimistically_conservative (If consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds, John F. Kerry’s mind must be freaking enormous. T.B.)
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To: Paradox
its atmosphere was less dense than expected

I would have thought that after two successful American landers in the 70's and all the subsequent orbiters we'd have had a good handle on the possible range of Martian atmospheric density (detectable as barometric pressure, I suppose) and allowed for that in the landings. The Americans apparently did so but the Europeans may have missed it. That is almost as embarrassing as our incorrectly ground mirror on the Hubble Telescope, a major cluster (blank) of NASA that they were thankfully able to correct with what amounts to a big set of orbital eye glasses.

19 posted on 03/09/2004 11:10:37 AM PST by katana
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