ME and Ophelia

FINGERS CROSSED FOR BEAGLE'S LANDING ON MARS
British spacecraft's 400 million kilometre voyage ends in 7 hours time

Imagine all the scientists and engineers around the world awaiting the expected landing on Mars of the British-built spacecraft Beagle 2.

The £35m probe is expected to touch down on the planet's surface in about 7 hours time after a 400 million kilometre voyage which has taken six months.

Beagle's plunge through the thin atmosphere of Mars, slowed by parachutes and cushioned by airbags, is easily the most dangerous part of the mission.

It is expected to touch down at 0254 GMT on Christmas morning to start a 180-day mission to search for signs of life, past or present.

Further reading in previous post Sunday, December 14, 2003: Landing of Hope and Glory Go Beagle!
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ICEBLOG!
Geophysicist Beth Bartel, blogs Live From Antarctica.

Source courtesy of Lisa Williams
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SNAPPING UP A PRIZE CRACKER
Scientists have come up with a formula for the perfect way to pull a Christmas cracker.
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HOW TO MAKE A PERFECT CUPPA
How to make the perfect cup of tea, according to scientists.