Posted by tourdemars to Mars Express at November 2, 2004 09:53 AM

The loss of Britain's Beagle 2 project can be traced to the Government wanting a Mars lander "on the cheap", and tensions with the European Space Agency, MPs said yesterday. Previous reports have highlighted the possible technical reasons for the failure of the £50 million lander, part of the agency's Mars Express mission. Yesterday's report from Dr Gibson's committee is the first to publish details of the squabbles, animosity and management upsets behind the mission.