Beagle 2 leaves the UK to join Mars Express for mission to red planet; Lord Sainsbury praises UK role in voyage to look for signs of life on Mars.

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M2 PRESSWIRE-24 February 2003-UK Government: Beagle 2 leaves the UK to join Mars Express for mission to red planet; Lord Sainsbury praises UK role in voyage to look for signs of life on Mars(C)1994-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD RDATE:02242003 Science Minister Lord Sainsbury today praised UK scientists and industry for their role in the successful completion of work on the Beagle 2 probe to Mars.

The lander is now en route to Astrium, in Toulouse, France, where it will be fitted to the Mars Express orbiter. The European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft will then be taken to Baikonur, in Kazakhstan, where it will blast-off on a Soyuz-Fregat launcher this summer on a six- month voyage to the Red Planet. Lord Sainsbury said: "The successful completion of Beagle...