EADS Astrium Sponsors Beagle 2

http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/index.cfm?fas...&arti cle=340

EADS Astrium sponsors Beagle 2
British National Space Centre
July 24, 2003

Europe's leading space and satellite company, EADS Astrium,
whose Stevenage-based engineers and technicians designed and
built the Beagle 2 Mars Lander, today announced that it has
become Beagle 2's first commercial sponsor. EADS Astrium's
backing, worth over £1 million, is the first sponsorship of its kind
in space exploration.

Beagle 2, Britain's first mission to Mars, was successfully
launched on ESA's Mars Express spacecraft in June and is due to
land on Christmas Day 2003. The company sees this as a unique
opportunity to inspire the next generation of engineers and
scientists, as well as to engage with a global audience.

Dr Mike Healy, EADS Astrium's Director of Earth Observation,
Navigation and Science UK, believes that Britain's contribution to
space technology and exploration is one of the nation's best-kept
secrets. He adds "Beagle 2 will help us to highlight the amazing
potential of this technology and inspire younger generations who
will be the engineers and scientists of the future."

EADS Astrium is already well established as a sponsor and
supporter of educational projects such as the National Space
Science Centre is Leicester and the UK Space School. With this
mission to inspire and educate in mind, EADS Astrium will launch
a UK schools competition in September directly linked to its
involvement with Beagle 2.

There is no shortage of exciting challenges ahead in the future
for young people with a passion for space exploration. EADS
Astrium is already working on both the Venus Express Orbiter,
which will be launched in 2005, and the ISHTAR mission to study
Near-Earth Objects (NEOs).