BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Beagle mission 'poorly managed'
...Professor Southwood said it was possible that:
* Beagle entered an atmosphere that was thinner than expected, causing the probe to approach the surface too fast;
* the probe's parachute or cushioning airbags failed to deploy or deployed at the wrong time;
* Beagle's backshell or heatshield tangled with the parachute preventing it from opening properly;
* Beagle became wrapped up in its airbags or parachute on the surface and could not open.
However, the Esa official said any number of scenarios could be postulated.
