New Beagle mission plan revealed

The details of the next Beagle mission to Mars have been announced by the team behind Beagle 2.

Lead Beagle scientist Colin Pilger has outlined plans for putting a new robotic laboratory on the Red Planet.

Scientists hope to launch two landers in 2009, as part of Europe's Aurora programme of space exploration.

Beagle 2's mission to Mars ended after it crash-landed on the planet on December 25 2003. Its wreckage has never been found.

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The aim of the project is to monitor Mars' atmosphere before attempting to land.

This means the lander could dodge dust storms, which was one of the biggest hazards facing missions to Mars.

The project will be called Beagle 2: Evolution, as scientists behind the plan want it to be linked to the original Beagle 2 mission.

Investigation

Earlier this week an investigation into why Beagle 2 was lost on Mars said it might have been more successful if the government had given the project more help.

Another investigation revealed that the atmosphere was too thin, making it difficult for Beagle 2 to land.