Spacecraft heads for Mars landing

Beagle 2 was heading for an historic landing on Mars today after successfully separating from its mother ship.

Confirmation that the spacecraft had parted company with Mars Express came at about 11.10am.

Guests assembled at the Royal Geographical Society in London, where a live link had been set up with the mission control centre in Germany, greeted the news with rapturous applause.

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.

But the eject mechanism worked perfectly, spinning Beagle 2 to keep it stable like a rugby ball thrown through the air.

The news was announced by Mike McKay, flight director at the control centre in Darmstadt.

He said: “Fantastic news. We can confirm we have Beagle 2 separated successfully.”

His words were drowned out by claps and cheers from the audience of scientists, engineers and special guests, including the Duke of York.

Both Beagle 2 and Mars Express are due to reach the Red Planet at about the same time early on Christmas Day after a trip of 250 million miles.

While Mars Express goes into orbit around the planet, Beagle 2 will parachute down to the surface to start a 180-day mission searching for signs of life.

Planetary scientist Professor Colin Pillinger, from The Open University, who conceived the idea of Beagle 2 six years ago, said: “We were about to play a two-legged match and both of them were away, a long way away in space.

“We’ve travelled 250 million miles, we’ve got a one-nil result in the first leg: we’re playing the second leg on Christmas morning.”

Science Minister Lord Sainsbury, who was also at the Royal Geographical Society, said: “Beagle 2 now is on its way to Mars.

“One more critical test has been passed and I’d just like to congratulate everyone who has played a part, and particularly the people who designed the spin-up and eject mechanism.

“What we’re seeing here today is an extraordinary example of the best of British engineering as well as the best of British science.

“We all look forward to the next contact with Beagle 2 transmitted from the surface of Mars.”