Two Scottish scientists are part of the team studying the formation of Mars - as space mission lands on the Red Planet tonight.

Dr Axel Hagermann and Dr Nicholas Attree, from the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Stirling, will study data gathered from the NASA mission which is due to land at 8pm on Monday.

The duo will study the planet's temperature, pulse and reflexes, comparing it to the Earth, in order to better understand the evolution of the solar system.

The spacecraft was launched from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on May 5, 2018.

It will have to 'blast' to the surface of the red planet at a speed of 12,300 miles per hour as it enters the atmosphere, before slowing down to land at around five miles per hour - all in just seven minutes.

If the landing is successful, the spacecraft will then measure the 'vital signs' of Mars, which formed 4.5 billion years ago.

Dr Hagermann said: "It is exciting to be involved in the NASA InSight mission.

"Today's landing is a milestone in this major project, which aims to shed new light on the formation and early evolution of Mars and other rocky planets, including Earth.

"Our team will measure the heat coming through the surface of Mars, as well as the level of heat retained.

"We will also look at the physical properties of the crust, its thermal conductivity and the level of radioactive elements within it."

Only around four in ten missions ever sent to the Red Planet have been successful, all of which have been US spacecraft.