The British Beagle 2 lander, after 11 years, found on the surface of Mars. The probe did not have radio contact after landing in 2003. Initially it was thought that the Beagle 2 would have crashed, but that is not the case.
Due to the small dimensions of the probe, the cross section is not more than 2 metres – was the search for the Beagle 2 is a huge job. On a high-res photo of the Reconnaissance Orbiter, a satellite of the NASA, the Beagle 2 finally been spotted. From the photo also shows that the probe is only 5 kilometres from the intended landingslocatie on the martian surface has landed. The figure also shows that some solar panels are deployed, but probably not all.
It is possible the probe is not on a flat surface landing, so not all solar panels unfolded, and the electronics are not powered could be. Also, the probe just a little to hard landing, which the Beagle 2 is damaged.
The ESA is delighted with the discovery of the probe after the ‘loss’ of 11 years. The space agency says that the radio silence after the landing in 2003, many questions have recalled, but that the landing at the time seems to have passed.
