posted 11-13-2003 03:13 PM
Hope this message gets through since howling gale force winds outside rattling the wires here in UK tonight :-)Prof Colin Pillinger has written a book about the Beagle 2 mission. Its available now.
Anyone interested I can get the details etc.
Also,ESA announced the 'overall timeline' for the Mars Express mission including Mars orbit nsertion and the drop release of Beagle 2 a few days before that event.
Beagle 2 still 'on course' for a Christmas Day touchdown at this point in time.
16 December
All day Fine targeting of Mars Express to point at landing site – ranging
19 December
06:51 GMT/07:51 CET Decision to release Beagle 2
08:41 GMT/09:41 CET Eject command sent to Mars Express
10:15 GMT/11:15 CET First results of release available
20 December
Re-targeting of Mars Express on an orbital insertion course
23 December
Update on Mars Express Orbital Insertion Sequence
24 December
Night Final decision to steer Mars Express into a Martian orbit
25 December
02:45 GMT/03:45 CET Beagle 2 landing on Mars
03:00 GMT/04:00 CET Mars Express Orbital Insertion
05:15 GMT/06:15 CET Mars Odyssey orbiter flight over Beagle 2
07:00 GMT/08:00 CET First evaluation of Mars Express orbital insertion
22:45 GMT/23:45 CET Possible direct capture of Beagle 2 signals at Jodrell
Bank (UK)
Phill
UK
Home of Darwin's Space Rock