From: clj@panix.com   
      
   anonymous  writes:   
      
   > Martin Milan wrote:   
   >   
   >> The hope is to extend the observations window in an attempt to   
   >> establish contact with Beagle 2 - the British Mars Lander.   
   >   
   > Isn't this a joint European effort?   
      
   Not the lander hardware; the mission was since the lander piggybacked on   
   the European Mars Express orbiter, which took care of all the   
   maneuvering to put Beagle on course for Mars (and the subsequent   
   maneuvering to put itself into orbit around Mars).  Mars Express is also   
   designed to relay signals to and from Beagle.  Also, the Russians sold   
   the launcher and launch services which sent the probes on their way, so   
   the European mission to Mars left from the steppes of Asia, in   
   Kazakstan.   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)