Stage set for Mars Christmas landing

IF ALL goes to plan, the Beagle 2 spacecraft will touchdown on Mars sometime on Christmas morning.

At 11.10am yesterday, the probe separated from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter on the final leg of its 250 million mile journey.

Scientists said the "spin-up and ejection" manoeuvre was crucial. Had it failed there would have been no landing and, saddled with extra mass, Mars Express could not have entered its desired orbit.