Gees Barry, got any proof we didn't go thru proper channels after this interview? It is pretty obvious that the use of the word "sponsorship" by TMS was the faux pas! Like he did want the money...what a retard you are Barry!

"While the microscope is on the Beagle 2's manifest of science instruments, the Mars Society's claim of sponsorship of the device is incorrect, said a top official of the Beagle 2 project.

"This deal certainly does not exist," said Colin Pillinger, lead scientist for the Beagle 2 effort, and professor of planetary sciences research at the Open University, located in Milton Keynes, the United Kingdom.

"I welcome the enthusiasm of the Mars Society, there's no doubt about that. However, all sponsorship arrangements regarding Beagle 2 have to be arranged via the project. So separate deals with anybody on the team are not appropriate," Pillinger told SPACE.com.

All sponsorship arrangements are negotiated solely by Beagle 2 project officials or the London-based M&C Saatchi Sponsorship Ltd, who joined with Beagle 2 to coordinate the commercial development of the project, Pillinger said."

The Article

Boy. what an artful editor we have among us!

--Chris Vancil