A Slice of the Heat Shield

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Caption:

This image from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity features a cross section through the structure and thermal protection system of the rover's heat shield. Shown is one of six separation fittings used to join and separate the heat shield from the backshell during atmospheric entry, descent, and landing. Upon impact, this separation fitting punched through the structure.

This is an approximately true-color rendering of the scene acquired around 1:21 p.m. local solar time on Opportunity's sol 340 (Jan. 7, 2005) using panoramic camera filters at wavelengths of 750, 530, and 430 nanometers.

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