London - Artist Damien Hirst is to have an example of his work exhibited on Mars. He has been asked to create one of his trademark "spot paintings" for a key role on the Beagle 2 mission to Mars. The Beagle 2 probe, due for launch in June 2003, will land on the surface of Mars and carry out tests to search for signs of past or present life.
But, for the craft's sensitive cameras and instruments to operate properly, they must first be calibrated by focusing on a target "test card". Hirst's picture, composed of different coloured spots, is to fulfil this essential function.