Beagle 2: Evolution
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This article or section documents a scheduled or expected spaceflight. Details may change as the launch date approaches or more information becomes available. |
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Beagle 2 : Evolution is the proposed successor to the unsuccessful Beagle 2 Mars lander (which disappeared during its landing in 2003). 'Evolution' is a working title only. The craft is, once again, being designed by Professor Colin Pillinger, lead scientist on the previous venture. EADS Astrium are again playing a large part in funding and development of the project.
Pillinger hopes to launch two landing craft from an orbiter that could fly in 2009 as part of the European Space Agency's Aurora Programme.
The Evolution lander would retain the round shape of the original. However, this time it might use deadbeat airbags, rather than the bouncing type of the previous lander.
[edit] Technology
Professor Pillinger hopes to boast the following in Evolution:
- Advanced solar cell technology, meaning two cells as opposed to the previous four
- Fanfold system - so the top of the vehicle remains horizontal (location for the main UHF antenna)
- Powerful X-band (8.0 to 12.0 GHz) antenna for direct vehicle-to-Earth radio link on the vehicle's main shell, to provide real-time descent statistics
- New lithium-ion battery technology - Evolution's battery will be able to operate at lower temperatures, meaning less power wasted on heating - a possible 60% capacity boost to that of Beagle
- Deadbeat airbags, which inflate just before touch-down, and gently deflate during landing, which means Evolution will come to a stop where it lands, and not bounce to a stop like Beagle
- Life-chips, which detect the presence of amino acids
[edit] See also
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