Beagle 2 Passes First Test on its Way to Mars

Status Report From: British National Space Centre
Posted: Thursday, June 5, 2003

The UK bulit Beagle 2 lander has successfully passed its first big test earlier today when the 3 restraining bolts which had kept the lander secure during the launch of Mars Express were released successfully.

The restrainig bolts that kept Beagle 2 securely clamped down to the Mars Express probe during blast-off were released in a procedure co-ordinated by flightengineers at ESOC (European Satellite Control Centre) in Darmstadt, Germany

The flight engineers will need to undertake a burn shortly to ensure that the Mars Express probe is on the correct path to Mars

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