Beagle 2: lessons learned and the way forward (Forwarded)

European Space Agency
Press Release No. 27-2004
Paris, France 20 May 2004

Beagle 2: lessons learned and the way forward

The Commission of Inquiry on Beagle 2, jointly set up in February between
ESA and the British National Space Centre (BNSC), has recently concluded
its investigations. A joint ESA/BNSC press conference in London on Monday
24 May will be the platform to expand on the lessons learned from the
recommendations issued by the Commission of Inquiry and the action plan
adopted to implement such recommendations.

The Mars Express spacecraft, carrying the Beagle 2 lander, was launched
on 2 June last year, arriving in the vicinity of Mars in December. The
separation of Beagle 2 from Mars Express took place flawlessly on 19
December. The satellite continued its mission with its successful
insertion into a Mars orbit on 25 December, the day on which Beagle 2
was due to land.

The first radio contact with Beagle 2 was expected shortly after the
scheduled landing time but no signal was received. Many radio contacts
were attempted over the following days and weeks, but without result.
By early February it became clear that there was no prospect of
communicating with Beagle 2 and a joint ESA/UK inquiry was set up to
investigate the circumstances and possible reasons that prevented
completion of the Beagle 2 mission.

The Commission of Inquiry, including senior managers and experts from
Europe and also from NASA and Russia held several meetings in the UK
and at ESA, interviewed the key players -- directors, managers,
scientists, and engineers -- involved in the development of Beagle 2,
and has submitted its findings, assessments and recommendations.

The report was submitted to the UK Minister for Science and Innovation
and the Director General of ESA on 21 April and accepted. No single
technical failure or shortcoming was unambiguously identified but a
few credible causes for Beagle 2 loss were highlighted. More
importantly, the Board made it clear that there were programmatic
and organisational reasons that led to a high risk of Beagle 2 failure.

The outcome of the review carried out by the Commission of Inquiry is
summarized in 19 recommendations to the British Authorities and ESA.
These constitute the basis of lessons learned for the future. Both
parties have accepted them fully. ESA will undertake a course of
action to ensure their implementation.

On Monday 24 May, BNSC invites media representatives to attend a
press conference at:

The Department of Trade and Industry
Conference Centre
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET

Time: 0845 Registration
0930 Press Conference

The press conference will include:

Lord Sainsbury, UK Science Minister
Professor David Southwood, ESA Director of Space Science
David Leadbeater, Deputy Director General BNSC
Professor Colin Pillinger, Head of Planetary Sciences Research Institute,
Open University

For registration, please contact: Katie Bristowe, BNSC, on 020 7215 0807,
or e-mail:

The press conference can be followed remotely by phone by dialling + 44
(0) 870 600 0825.

For further information:

BNSC
Steve Warren, Head of Information
Tel: +44 (0) 207 215 0806/0905
Fax: +44 (0) 207 215 0936

ESA
Franco Bonacina, Head of Media Relations Division
Tel. +33(0)1 53 69 7155
Fax. +33(0)1 53 69 7690

* Andrew Yee schriebt:

The outcome of the review carried out by the Commission of Inquiry is
summarized in 19 recommendations to the British Authorities and ESA.
These constitute the basis of lessons learned for the future. Both
parties have accepted them fully. ESA will undertake a course of
action to ensure their implementation.

Well, did you folks include budgeting for and ensurance of proper, realistic
_testing_ of all equipment and software?

And rating of managers?

And risk-free or low-risk manager by-pass channels for engineers to raise
concerns?

--
A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet and in e-mail?