Northern Precision Engineering is playing a vital role in the search for life on other planets.

For when the Mars Express probe blasts off from Kazakhastan in June next year, a component critical to the mission's success will have been built at NPE's plant in Wallsend on Tyneside.

NPE has been given the responsibility of manufacturing the launch clamp ring, which acts as the interface between the Mars Express orbiter vehicle and Beagle 2, the self-contained laboratory that will descend to the surface of the red planet to seek evidence of life.

The Mars Express project is being overseen by the European Space Agency, with NPE one of 25 companies spread over 15 different European countries currently developing hardware and software for the spacecraft.

The project will assume huge significance as part of the international Mars exploration programme over the next twenty years. NPE's Chief Executive Chris Small is proud of his company's involvement in the venture.

He said: "We are actually contracted to make four launch clamp rings, and some have already been shipped to the prime industrial contractor for the project, Astrium Ltd, in Toulouse for offline testing.

"This component is critical to the success of the mission so we have to be 100 per cent certain the ring will withstand the rigours of separation from the orbiter vehicle.

"NPE won this prestigious contract for a number of reasons. We combine space age engineering expertise with down-to-earth, old-fashioned virtues such as total customer service and satisfaction.

"We have a tremendous track record in being able to work to very strict deadlines; our quality control procedures are exceptional, and our pricing is always competitive.

He added: "The Mars Express will take six months to reach its destination. If all goes to plan, the Beagle 2 laboratory will disengage from the orbiter on Boxing Day, 2003.

"We're looking forward to playing our small part in yet another major scientific advance in space exploration. I suppose it must represent the ultimate export market for us - all the way from Wallsend to Mars."