BS: BS Go Beagle go !

Subject: BS: Go Beagle go !
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 11:37 AM

Only 1 day left.

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: Strupag
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 08:46 PM

Only just over an hour to go now sorefingers and I'm willing it to work.
I'm glad they are using a Blurr tune rather than an Oasis one!

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: GUEST,Walking Eagle
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 10:43 PM

I, too, wish Beagle the best.

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: Amos
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 11:10 PM

May it accomplish new milestones for all of our species in the galaxy!


A

Subject: BS Go Beagle go !
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 01:02 AM

Latest from the Beeb - Mars Express entered orbit - says Mike Mc Kay of
ESA ...

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 03:24 AM

Alas, contact lost- may not have landed safely. Trying to contact again at 10pm tonight UK time. I hope it's OK, the Prof from MK deserves success if only for retaining those sideburns!

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 08:00 AM

So instead of the promised headlines saying "The Beagle has landed" it looks like being "The Beagle is Buggered" Real shame though. But touch wood...

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 10:39 AM

That dog don't hunt..........Shoulda' sent a Weimaraner.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: vectis
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 04:21 PM

Instead of "Houston, we have a problem" us Brits got "Oh! Bugger."

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 04:53 PM

There are any number of reasons the Beagle may not have communicated to earth and still be alright. The most likely scenario (aside from failure) is that it did not complete the landing in time.

Beagle is wrapped in air bags which were inflated after it separated from Mars Express. It should hit the surface at a rather high velocity and take a big bounce, perhaps 50 feet or more, depending on what it hits and the angle it comes in at. It can survive this because the air bags compress and cushion the blow just like automobile air bags keep you from being destroyed. After this there would be a series of bounces until finally it comes to rest. Then the air bags are deflated and Beagle can communicate to earth.

However, because beagle is so small, it cannot carry a large enough antenna to send signals directly to earth that are sufficiently large to be received by the deep space network antennae. So, it talks to Mars Express which is in orbit around mars and the orbiter relays the information to earth. Obviously, this can only happen when the orbiter is visible in the martian sky from the position of Beagle.

It is quite possible that by the time Beagle had finally settled down in one spot and was ready to call home, Mars Express had disappeared over the horizon making the call impossible. The next chance for the communications link to work is December 25 at about 2300 GMT or about an hour after this post.

Hope it works this time.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 06:11 PM

I liked whiskery Colin Pillinger's reaction: "It's not the end of the world...Please don't go away from here believing we've lost the spacecraft. I'm afraid it's the usual England scenario - we're going to play extra time."

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: Mrrzy
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 09:59 PM

Still not yeard from, I just checked the news... but am still hoping the Martians will let this one live. They don't usually...

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: GUEST,Walking Eagle
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 10:10 PM

At least you Brits didn't use two forms of measurement!

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 02:37 AM

I think the martians found that research thing, and smshed it to pieces.

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 07:45 AM

Two forms of measurement - is that cm and nanometers? Hubble bubble toil and trouble.

Nah the martian foxes are wreaking revenge.

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: Bassic
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 07:53 AM

Da Da Daaaaaaaaaaaaa...diddleum, diddleum...

Da Da Daaaaaaaaaaaaa...diddleum, diddleum...

(spot the tune?)

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 07:55 AM

hrloo bassic.,you waking up early. did you shit the bed or summat!

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: GUEST,Julie B
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 03:03 PM

I work at the Open University. Nothing to do with 'Beagle' project myself, however I run the OU folk club with friend Norman Coombes (banjo/guitar/mandolin) & Michelle Higgins (fiddle/whistle/clarinet) who are both technicians in the Earth Sciences dept, so hope it turns up ok.

In our lunchtime session last week we discussed whether to compose a new session tune in honour of the occassion. I guess we'd better wait to see what it's fate was before we decide on a name, & whether it should be in a major, or minor, key!

Julie B

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: Penny S.
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 06:07 PM

Somewhere today I gleaned the information that Mars was not only a god of war, but also of farming - so Colin Pillinger is obviously the right sort of guy to be doing this. Can't someone go up there and give it a kick with a wellie?

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: open mike
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 06:49 PM

this sounds scary...probably scared the martians
http://www.beagle2.com/science/sightandsound.htm
here is the home page of the mission
http://www.beagle2.com/index.htm
as far as i know nothing has been heard yet.

Subject: RE: BS: BS Go Beagle go !
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 06:54 PM

Perhaps a slip jig might be most appropriate.