ALEXANDER CAMPBELL / LONDON
Mars Express, Europe's first mission to Mars, is on course to enter orbit on 25 December, but for the craft's Beagle 2 lander the most dangerous part of the mission lies ahead.
A "whole series" of potential single point failures could doom the mission before its landing, warns Mike Healy, director of science at prime contractor EADS Astrium. After it begins to enter the Martian atmosphere at around 02:00 on 25 December, the lander will deploy a drogue parachute, then a main parachute, and finally three airbags to cushion its landing. There are no back-ups to any of these systems.
The craft is designed to touch down at 58km/h (31kt) and can withstand an impact at up to 72km/h, says John Reddy, ESA's principal electrical systems engineer for the project.
"Given a fair set of weather conditions, it should be OK," Healy says. Beagle 2 will collect samples of Martian rock and soil in an attempt to discover evidence of life.
Solar cell degradation will limit its lifespan to six months, says chief scientist Dr Colin Pillinger.
Source: Flight International
