The British Beagle 2 spacecraft landed successfully on Mars' surface, David Parker, the chief executive of the UK Space Agency has confirmed.
The probe was thought lost after attempting a Christmas Day landing on the planet in 2003.
Colleagues today paid tribute to the space scientist best known for Beagle 2, Professor Colin Pillinger.
Prof Pilinger died last year after suffering a brain haemorrhage at his home in Cambridge.
Today, Professor Mark Sims, of the University of Leicester, said he was 'elated' they now knew Beagle2 had landed but 'tinged with sadness' Prof Pillinger would never know.
UK Space Agency chief executive David Parker said: "We have many things to thank Colin Pillinger for. "Beagle 2 was much more of a success than we previously knew. The history books need to be slightly rewritten to say that Beagle 2 did land on Christmas Day 2003.
"Colin would be putting in his grant application to go,and fix it."
For 12 years Beagle 2 was feared lost but today it has been hailed after images showed the probe successfully landed on Mars in 2003.
Out of this world: Five fun facts about Beagle 2
Evidence suggests the missing British Beagle 2 spacecraft, reportedly built in a Professor's shed, did land successfully on Mars in 2003.