Royal interest in University space projectJuly 26, 2002During their visit to Leicester on 1 August 2002 Her Majesty the Queen and HRH Prince Philip will be shown the British Beagle 2 space mission to Mars which will be on display in the Planets Gallery of the National Space Centre. Beagle 2 is a unique British-led space probe, designed to search for evidence of life on the Red Planet. Beagle 2 will be transported to Mars on the European Space Agency`s Mars Express spacecraft, with lift-off in May 2003 and landing on Mars on Boxing Day, 2003. The University of Leicester is a key member of the Beagle 2 partnership, which is led by the Open University together with Astrium, UK, the British National Space Centre and the European Space Agency. Scientists and engineers in the University of Leicester`s Space Research Centre have designed and built a significant amount of the payload instrumentation, as well as the PAW structure which serves as the hands and eyes of the Beagle 2 probe. Mission planning activities are also led from Leicester. Professor Alan Wells, Director of the University of Leicester Space Research Centre, who will meet the Queen and Prince Philip on 1 August, said: "Beagle 2 is one of the most adventurous space projects ever undertaken by British space scientists. It is a special honour to have the opportunity to present this work to Her Majesty and the Duke, especially so in this Jubilee Year." University of Leicester Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Burgess will be having lunch with the Queen and Prince Philip. The University is one of the co-founders of the £52 million National Space Centre and has an internationally acknowledged research reputation in space research. It has one of the largest university space research centres in Europe and the University Department of Physics and Astronomy won the Queen`s Anniversary Prize in 1994 in recognition of outstanding educational achievement in areas of service and benefit to the nation. Professor Burgess said: "We are delighted that the prestige of the University`s space research programme is being recognised during this royal visit, which - in Beagle 2 - will see one of the most exciting space projects of our generation." Further information and pictures of Beagle 2 are available on the website: www.beagle2.com | |||||||||||||||||||||
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