Mars probe ‘may be stranded in crater’

BEAGLE 2 may be stranded within a crater scientists have just discovered in the middle of its landing site on Mars, it was revealed yesterday.

The one kilometre-wide crater, which could be hundreds of metres deep, lies like a bullseye at the centre of the 70 x 10 kilometre target area on Isidis Planitia near the Martian equator.

It was only revealed by close-up pictures of the site taken by the Nasa orbiter Mars Global Surveyor minutes after the British probe was supposed to have landed on Christmas Day.