License Photo

Curiosity's head shield is seen as it lands on Mars

This NASA color full-resolution image taken on August 6, 2012 by the Mars Descent Imager instrument shows the heat shield of NASA's Curiosity rover as it descends to the surface of Mars. This image shows the inside surface of the heat shield, with its protective multi-layered insulation. The bright patches are calibration targets for MARDI. Also seen in this image is the Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent, and Landing Instrument (MEDLI) hardware attached to the inside surface. Curiosity, which successfully landed on the Martian surface on August 6, 2012, is NASA's newest Martian rover equipped with a host of sensors and cameras with the mission goal to assess whether Mars ever was, or is still, an environment able to support microbial life. UPI/NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Please fill out form for pricing information for the photo below.