Farnborough-based defence and technology company Qinetiq has been recognised for its contribution to one of Britain's most ambitious space missions.

A commemorative plaque has been unveiled at the company's headquarters at Cody Technology Park, celebrating the work of its engineers on the Beagle 2 Mars lander.

Qinetiq's space specialists designed and built key components for the British-led spacecraft, including its antenna and communications hardware and software.

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Qinetiq's Mars mission plaque unveiled. (Qinetiq)

Beagle 2 was launched in June 2003 aboard the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter, as part of a mission to search for signs of life on the Red Planet.

The lander separated from Mars Express on December 19 and was due to touch down on Christmas Day. However, communication was lost and the mission was declared unsuccessful in February 2004.

More than a decade later, images captured by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in January 2015 revealed that Beagle 2 had successfully reached the Martian surface.

Investigators believe a solar panel failed to fully deploy, preventing the lander's communications equipment from operating.

Despite the setback, the project represented a significant achievement for British engineering and helped pave the way for future space exploration.

A Qinetiq spokesperson said: “The launch to Mars marked a milestone moment for the UK space industry and provided a legacy for future space missions.”

Local schoolchildren attended the plaque unveiling in Farnborough, where they met people involved in the original mission and took part in activities designed to encourage an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The recognition forms part of a UK Space Agency initiative celebrating Britain's contribution to space exploration and encouraging the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Similar plaques have been unveiled at the National Space Centre in Leicester, the Science Museum in London, Jodrell Bank in Cheshire, the Open University in Milton Keynes and Airbus in Stevenage.