Jan 14, 2018
In the early 21st century, a group of British adventurers,
scientists, engineers and explorers launched a mission to Mars. The
mission was called Beagle 2 and was led by the late Professor Colin
Pillinger. The mission attempted to answer one of the most profound
questions asked by humanity (and David Bowie): Is there life on
Mars? Beagle 2 was expected to land in 2003, but fell silent.
A core of enthusiasts continued the hunt for Beagle 2 and, 11 years
later, it was found. Beagle 2 had not crash landed and recent
analysis suggests that it may still be operating today. We will
tell the amazing story of how the UK became the third nation in
history to land on Mars with the help of a group of
Christmas-jumper-wearing-boffins, led by a mutton-chop wearing
farmer, who designed a probe on the back of a beer mat and knocked
it up in a shed.
Dean started his career working on the British-built Beagle 2 Mars
at Leicester University. Although it was declared lost, 11 years
later the craft was found to have made it in one piece to the
Martian surface and most probably conducted some science. It was
immediately declared the winner of the interplanetary hide and seek
competition 2004-2015. He enjoys reading science fiction
(hard, not soft), trolling conspiracy theorists on the internet and
generally not to taking life too seriously.