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Beagle 2 Official Inquiry Released

smasch writes "The ESA/UK Commission of Inquiry into Beagle 2 has released their report (PDF) on why the Mars lander Beagle 2 failed. While the report does not name a single cause for the failure, it does name several problems including the lack of funding, lack of margin in the design, and treating Beagle 2 as a scientific instrument rather than as a spacecraft. The report also made nineteen recommendations to prevent these sorts of failures on future missions. We have previously mentioned the Beagle 2 failure, although the official report was not released to the public at that time. The original story from MarsToday.com is available here."

11 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. I didn't do it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Neither did Capt'n Hector... fp!

  2. When'd we get the mars icon? by laptop006 · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    It's nice, reminds me of the "where am I" from Snow Crash.

    --
    /* FUCK - The F-word is here so that you can grep for it */
    1. Re:When'd we get the mars icon? by PseudoSchizo · · Score: 0, Offtopic
      I thought it was the Firefox logo..

      *ducks*

      --
      Proud Rememberer of the BBS Days.
    2. Re:When'd we get the mars icon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Snow crash is a great book... if you like adolescent teenage fantasies about skateboards, computers, hot robot chicks, and samurai swordfights.

      Total trash.

  3. Re:Confusing... by Lispy · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    And I thought it was about a fabled search engine.

  4. The Conclusion. by DeathByDuke · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Beagle 2 was actually a SAS probe, designed to hunt down and disrupt the NASA probes.

    Evidence:

    1 developed 'bugs' in its software, causing it to go into safe mode (Beagle 2 whacked it on the head with a mallet)

    the other one developed wheel trouble (Beagle 2 left some chewing gum on the wheel)

    The shape of Beagle 2 has been identified in the heatshield wreckage of Opportunitys location. We believe Beagle 2 is now preparing to possibly stalk Opportunity and gain more experience for its next level up in MarsRPG.

    1. Re:The Conclusion. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Mod up, you miserable fucks.

  5. Re:Spaceward Ho by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    USA after four more years with Bush: deserted wasteland.

  6. PrintFu version 4bucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
  7. mod Pdown by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
  8. Re:Spaceward Ho by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I predict that the Airbus 380 is going to be a colossal failure. People have to wait long enough to go through Customs when debarking an aircraft that holds only 300 - can you imagine the human toll that will result when one of these monsters holding over 800 people taxis in?