Failed Mars Probe Blamed on Lack of Funds (Beagle 2)

Nov 1, 9:24 PM EST

Failed Mars Probe Blamed on Lack of Funds

By ED JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) -- A failed European mission to land a probe on Mars last year was hampered by late funding from the British government and tensions between groups conducting the flight, a parliamentary committee said Tuesday.

The tiny Beagle 2 craft was supposed to touch down on the Red Planet to begin its search for life on Christmas Day 2003, but scientists have found no trace of the lander. An internal report by the British-led team concluded that electronic glitches, an unusually thin Martian atmosphere or a damaged heat shield. could have thwarted the mission

But Parliament's Science and Technology Committee said the mission was damaged from the outset by the government's initial failure to guarantee the project financially.

"As a result, the scientists had to go chasing celebrities for sponsorship when they might have been testing rockets," said committee chairman Ian Gibson.

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