Beagle 2 lander entering the Martian atmosphere, computer artwork. This British probe travelled to Mars on the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express mission, launched June 2nd 2003. It carried instruments designed to detect signs of past or present life on Mars. The Beagle 2 was released from the Mars Express spacecraft on December 19th, 2003, and entered the planet's atmosphere on December 25th. Unfortunately all contact was lost. The Mars Express orbiter, however, has continued in its mission to study the atmosphere and surface of Mars.