Updated 02 June 2003, 20.14

Russian Soyuz rocket with the Mars Express on the launch pad

When it arrives on Mars in December, the Beagle will hop off the craft and explore the planet.

It's one of three probes to take-off this summer.

The US space agency, Nasa, is sending two other Exploration Rover crafts to Mars, one of which takes off next week.

And a Japanese probe is due to land on the planet early next year.

When the Mars Express lands on the Red Planet, the Beagle 2 will be the first British-built craft to touch down on another world.

First to find life?

			Fact File
	Mars probes
		Craft will cover a distance of about 400m kms (250m miles) on the six-month journey
		Only three successful missions so far
		Nasa's two Viking probes in 1976
		Mars Pathfinder explored the surface in 1997

Countries really want to explore Mars properly because they reckon it's the most likely place other than Earth to have had life.

Recent clues about Mars' past, including possible lakes and oceans, have sparked a race to be the first to discover more.

So the main job of the Beagle 2 will be to find water thought to be trapped under the surface.

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Your guide to Beagle 2

Newsround Extra: Aliens!

Check out our Mars quiz

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