Posted: Sat, Dec 27, 2003, 11:05 AM ET (1605 GMT)
Latest efforts by spacecraft and ground-based telescopes have failed to detect any signals from the British-built Beagle 2 lander, and project officials now believe that the best chance to contact the spacecraft may have to wait until early January. Attempts on Friday by NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft, as well as the 76-meter Lovell radio telescope at Jodrell Bank in the UK, failed to detect any signals from Beagle 2, which landed on the Martian surface in the early morning hours Thursday. Beagle 2 lead scientist Colin Pillinger said Saturday that the best chance to contact the lander may have to wait until January 4, when the spacecraft exhausts its pre-programmed communications sessions and switches to an automatic transmission mode, broadcasting a signal throughout the Martian day. By that time ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, which entered orbit at the same time Beagle 2 landed, will be available to communicate with the lander; the orbiter carries communications equipment specifically designed for Beagle 2. Pillinger said he was "frustrated rather than concerned" about the lack of contact with the spacecraft.

Related Links:

•  Ananova article
•  BBC article
•  Washington Post article
•  Los Angeles Times article
•  PPARC press release