A series of plaques have been unveiled across the UK to celebrate Beagle 2, the country's first spacecraft to reach another planet. The mission was conceived by Professor Colin Pillinger, who aimed to send a lander to Mars to study for signs of life.
Professor Pillinger, known for his distinctive style and enthusiasm, persuaded politicians, pop stars, and the public to support the British mission to Mars. He secured financial backing from the UK government, academic institutions, industrial contractors, and private sponsors.
Beagle 2 launched on 2 June 2003 aboard the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express and was due to land on Mars on Christmas Day. However, no signal was received, leading Pillinger and his team to believe it had descended too quickly.
Professor Pillinger died in May 2014. Eight months later, high-resolution images captured by NASA revealed the largely intact Beagle 2 on the Martian surface, just 5km from its intended landing site. The images confirmed that much of its landing sequence had worked, but its solar panels had failed to open fully, trapping the antenna and preventing communication.