Posted by tourdemars to Mars Express at December 30, 2003 12:00 PM

FIRST they admitted that communications between Beagle 2 and the nearest spacecraft had never been tested. Now scientists leading Britain’s Mars mission have revealed that the probe may be stranded in a deep crater, which was only spotted 20 minutes after the craft was due to land. The latest potential setback for the Open University-led team was revealed yesterday, as the fate of the 143lb probe continued to elude astronomers. However, Lord Sainsbury, the science minister, suggested the government would back a Beagle 3 mission if it failed.