Posted by tourdemars to Mars Express at April 23, 2003 12:00 PM

The future Mars landing site for the European Beagle 2 mission, lies on the floor of a large impact basin in the northern hemisphere. Its low-lying plains include strings of cratered domes from ancient volcanoes and a series of small channels that indicate ancient water activity. Called Isidis Planitia, the site may also contain rocks from deep within the Martian crust that were blasted to the surface by its formative impact. Mission planners look to launch in June from the Russian Cosmodrome, then descend to Mars six months later in search for evidence of past life.