NASA Mars Global Surveyor Images of Spirit Heat Shield and Parachute on Mars

This image shows, on the left, a close-up of the backshell and parachute Spirit dropped while landing at Gusev Crater on Mars on Jan. 3, 2004.

The backshell is the smaller white mark to the left of the parachute.

On the right is a close-up of the location believed to be where the heat shield impacted, leaving a visible dark streak.

Both images were taken on Jan. 19, 2004, by the camera on board Mars Global Surveyor.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL/MSSS