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Looking for an out-of-this-world marketing opportunity? M&C Saatchi

is seeking sponsors interested in space exploration. The ad agency’s

sponsorship team has joined forces with a consortium of scientists

planning to send a probe to Mars.

The boffins, from Leicester University, Marconi Space and the Open

University, and backed by the Institute of Planetary Science, have

designed a landing craft, Beagle 2, and have assigned M&C the task of

raising pounds 10m in sponsorship - about a third of the total cost of

the mission.

Beagle 2 will blast off in June 2003 and take six months to get to Mars,

where it is scheduled to land on Boxing Day. But what can sponsors hope

to get for their money?

’The first thing everyone wants to know is whether there will be

branding on the spacecraft. Yes, there will, and on the probe,’ says

Matthew Patten, chief executive of M&C Saatchi Sponsorship.

Patten is hoping to sign up one title sponsor and four partner sponsors,

and suggests the initiative offers more than merely launching their

brands into space.

’The benefits are two-fold,’ he enthuses. ’First, it is a very big idea

to be associated with, and second, it is a great opportunity for

coverage and branding to schools and wider consumers.’

With the sky no longer the limit, Patten’s plans include a national

consumer campaign and a merchandise programme, linked to the mission.

’It is a really interesting project and deadly serious.’

Details of the Beagle 2 mission can be found on its web site,

www.beagle2.com.