Scientific instruments would be supplied by Imperial College London, Birmingham University and the Mullard Space Science Laboratory.

BBC: UK seeks to go it alone in space

"The theme for Carnival 2007, has a very serious message, " said Notting Hill Carnival's chairman, Professor Chris Mullard.

BBC: NEWS | UK | England | London | Carnival route remains unchanged

"The Nasa programme is looking quite lop-sided at the moment" according to Professor Andrew Coates, the head of planetary science at UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory.

BBC: Is Nasa looking in the wrong place for life?