Mars orbiter locates lost Beagle 2 lander

The Beagle 2 Mars lander, missing in action since 2003, may have been found. Images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show what appears to be the lander’s resting on the Martian surface. It looks like the lander’s solar panels are partially deployed and its parachute is still attached.

Beagle 2 hitched a ride to Mars onboard the Mars Express orbiter and was supposed to land on the Red Planet on December 25, 2003, but the lander was never heard from after its scheduled arrival time.  The new images show that Beagle 2 touched down about 5 kilometers from the center of its intended landing area.