"Mars Express" launched from Baikonur on 2 June 2003 at 17:45 UTC. "Beagle 2" was a Mars lander initially mounted on the top deck of the "Mars Express" orbiter. It was released from the orbiter on a ballistic trajectory towards Mars on 19 December 2003. "Beagle 2" coasted for six days after release and entered the Martian atmosphere at about on the morning of 25 December. The lander was protected from the heat of entry by a heat shield coated with NORCOAT, an ablating material made by EADS. Compression of the Martian atmosphere and radiation from the hot gas are estimated to have led to a peak heating rate of around 100 W/cm².