Heatshield Options

[Mode5]

The tread mark track at the 11 o'clock position reveals they may have gone a little too close to the wreckage. It gives the appearance that at least one side became slightly elevated into the air.

There is a small amount of dirt in a pile at the base of the debris as if the wreckages were pushed further into the ground. I wonder if this is from a possible collision with the rover or if was always present?

I don't see anything wrong with the wheel. I hope they re-evaluate the risk vs. reward at the site. There are a number of sharp elevated angles which do not resemble type of rock. Dragging a wheel is one thing but dragging a piece of debris around would be a terrible way for this rover to go out.

In re:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...FRR2761R0M1.JPG

[Pando]

The tread mark track at the 11 o'clock position reveals they may have gone a little too close to the wreckage. It gives the appearance that at least one side became slightly elevated into the air.

This image was made in Eagle crater next to the lander platform, something like 9 months ago. It doesn't show any 'wreckage' of any kind.

Also, the wheel tread has a section where it was attached to the landing platform. That section is the one visible on the left front wheel in that image.

I don't think any of the heatshield debris poses any danger to the rover, unless it actually collides with a large piece head-on... Nevertheless I doubt they will attempt to drive the rover over the large pieces of course

They are planning to do some IDD work with the soil that was disturbed by the heatshield crash. Also, they may do some work with the rock found nearby that resembles the 'Bounce Rock' they found close to Eagle crater.

[Pando]

Also, this image shows the assembly -- it does look like it has turned inside out. Notice the shiny foil-like material on the inside.

What most likely happened was that the shield came down nose first, the nose hit the ground and edges came down some milliseconds later. The nose shot back up, tearning the saucer apart and turning it inside out, and a sector broke away and landed nearby. And as a result there is a flat crater where it did a nice belly-flop.

[mhoward]

This image was made in Eagle crater next to the lander platform, something like 9 months ago. It doesn't show any 'wreckage' of any kind.

And not to beat this subject to death, but in case anyone was wondering, the mark on the ground is the start of a trench that Oppy dug, on purpose. Again, months ago.

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

Oog. That same guy on the Planetary Sciences website (curse him!) has pointed out that the date of that Hazcam photo is incorporated into its ID number -- and that it is indeed one of the rover's earliest photos, disgorged from the back recesses of its memory at this late date. (Which makes one wonder how much else is still stuffed back there.) The latest Navcam shots, however, do confirm that the rover is gradually making its way closer.

(It's also a lot easier to understand how the heat shield could have turned itself inside-out on impact when you consider how shallow a cone it actually is.)

[Guest_Sunspot_*]

No time to stop.............. they've driven past the heatshield.

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...AJP0645L0M1.JPG

...fairly close to the other fragment now:

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...AJP0645R0M1.JPG

[mhoward]

I love that you can see Endurance Crater in the background, and even see the rover's tracks all the way to the horizon. Nice.

[ilbasso]

Looking at the new view of the main shield fragment, I can see why they are passing it by. I would bet that those blankets could blow around in the wind. Not something you'd want to get your antennas and camera masts stuck in!

[dot.dk]

Can't see if the fragment has the protective side of the shield upwards.
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...AJP0645R0M1.JPG

If it has, then they most likely will do some MI work on it

[ilbasso]

Looks to me like this piece is twisted. The fragment toward the top/left of the frame looks charred and is convex. The fragment on the right looks concave and appears to have some of the insulating blanket still attached -- the blanket also appears to be caught on/wrapped around the piece that runs across the bottom of the picture - which I think is a small section of the large ring that circles the heatshield and attaches it to the upper part of the aeroshell.

[Pando]

I would bet that those blankets could blow around in the wind. Not something you'd want to get your antennas and camera masts stuck in!

The material is fairly stiff, I doubt there is anything to blow around in the wind, especially in the thin Martian atmosphere. A parachute would be a different story of course, but the main reason they're driving around the big fragment is that the smaller fragment's scorched outer layer is easily accessible for IDD work. They of course are also imaging the big fragment in different angles.

[Mode5]

Eagle Crater! Egads, thanks for the correction Pando.

Edit:
I should have read Mhowards post too. Whoops!

[dot.dk]

Looks like they are approaching the fragment

[Guest_Sunspot_*]

Looks like burnt toast ..... kind of crispy.

[mhoward]

In 3D: