posted 11-13-2003 03:13 PM            

Prof Colin Pillinger has written a book about the Beagle 2 mission. Its available now.
Anyone interested I can get the details etc.

Also,ESA announced the 'overall timeline' for the Mars Express mission including Mars orbit nsertion and the drop release of Beagle 2 a few days before that event.

Beagle 2 still 'on course' for a Christmas Day touchdown at this point in time.

16 December

All day Fine targeting of Mars Express to point at landing site – ranging

19 December

06:51 GMT/07:51 CET Decision to release Beagle 2
08:41 GMT/09:41 CET Eject command sent to Mars Express
10:15 GMT/11:15 CET First results of release available

20 December

Re-targeting of Mars Express on an orbital insertion course

23 December

Update on Mars Express Orbital Insertion Sequence

24 December

Night Final decision to steer Mars Express into a Martian orbit

25 December

02:45 GMT/03:45 CET Beagle 2 landing on Mars
03:00 GMT/04:00 CET Mars Express Orbital Insertion
05:15 GMT/06:15 CET Mars Odyssey orbiter flight over Beagle 2
07:00 GMT/08:00 CET First evaluation of Mars Express orbital insertion
22:45 GMT/23:45 CET Possible direct capture of Beagle 2 signals at Jodrell
Bank (UK)

Phill
UK
Home of Darwin's Space Rock

posted 11-16-2003 09:43 AM            

"Beagle - from sailing ships to Mars spacecraft"

It weaves Darwin Beagle ship mission with Mars bound Beagle II

Pillinger signed copies online from www2.open.ac.uk/ousa using code SSM-094623

Its GB £20

Or tel UK 01908 653693 (24 hrs)

I want commission off Pillinger for this :-)

posted 11-21-2003 01:36 PM               

I'll leave it up to someone else to give a review as I have a pile of books still to read through yet !

Thanks for the tip off Phill,