Beagle 3

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Diagram of the proposed Beagle 3

Beagle 3

Aurora Programme. The putative Beagle 3 would be named after the ship HMS Beagle that took Charles Darwin
around the world.

After the Beagle 3 project was rejected by ESA in 2004, Pillinger proposed to the NASA to hitch a ride on the Mars Science Laboratory Mars lander,[3][4] but the proposal was not accepted.

One of the goals of Beagle 3 was to support the ESA Aurora programme if chosen.[5]

Proposed payload

  • Advanced solar cell technology, meaning two disc-shaped solar arrays (as opposed to the previous four)[1]
  • A gas analysis package (Gap) to test soil and rock for biosignatures and biomolecules[1]
  • 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 data.
  • New
    lithium-ion
    battery technology—to be able to operate at lower temperatures, meaning less power wasted on heating—a possible 60% capacity boost to that of Beagle 2.
  • Deadbeat airbags, which inflate just before touch-down, and gently deflate during landing, so that the probe could come to a stop where it lands, and not bounce to a stop.
  • Life-chips, which detect the presence of amino acids.[1]

Impact of Beagle 2 discovery

Beagle 2 was found in 2015, which overturned a previous theory that it hit thin air and collided with Mars at high speed, however it was not known for sure because it did not transmit any data during descent.[6] When the Beagle 2 leader tried to raise money for Beagle 3, the EDL system used on Beagle 2 was an unknown.[6] However, after its discovery there was realization that the EDL must have worked as it was found on the surface with several panels deployed, even though it did not transmit.[6]

One of the goals of Beagle 3 was to use lessons learned from Beagle 2 to improve the spacecraft, and also take advantage of newer technology.[5] However, since it was not clear what happened to Beagle 2, it was not obvious what should be changed.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Scientists lift veil on Beagle 3
  2. ^ Beagle 3 To The Moon? No Chance.
  3. ^ Rincon, Paul (26 July 2004). "'Beagle 3' looks to American ride". BBC News. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  4. ^ Highfield, Roger (25 August 2004). "Beagle 'may go to Mars on Nasa's flying bedstead'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  5. ^ a b c "Scientists lift veil on Beagle 3". 3 November 2004.
  6. ^ a b c "What We Can Learn from a Mars Mutt Named Beagle 2". 8 February 2015.

External links

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