Missing Beagle 2 Lander Found on Mars’ Surface

The British Beagle 2 lander has been found on the surface of Mars after 11 years. The probe failed to make radio contact after landing in 2003. The Beagle 2 was initially thought to have crashed, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Due to the small size of the probe – the diameter is no more than 2 meters – the search for the Beagle 2 was a huge task. The Beagle 2 was finally spotted in a high-res image from the Reconnaissance Orbiter, a NASA satellite. The photo also shows that the probe touched down on the Martian surface just 5 kilometers from its intended landing site. The image also shows that some solar panels have unfolded, but probably not all.

The probe may not have landed on a flat surface, so that not all solar panels could be unfolded and the electronics could not be powered. Also, the probe may have landed just a little too hard, causing damage to the Beagle 2.

The ESA is pleasantly surprised with the discovery of the probe after it has been ‘missing’ for 11 years. The space agency states that the radio silence after the landing in 2003 raised many questions, but that the landing seems to have been successful at the time.