Matt McIrvin's Freaky Alternate Reality

The first of the probes to encounter Mars in coming weeks, the Japanese Nozomi (aka Planet-B) orbiter, won't make it into orbit. It has had many problems en route, and it's somewhat amazing that it even got as far as it did.

The European Mars Express orbiter/Beagle 2 lander and a couple of American rovers are still on the way.

In related news, this guy looks like a long-lost relative of Mike Jittlov.