Heat Shield Impact Crater on Mars . ... Credit Copyright: Mars Exploration Rover Mission , JPL , NASA Explanation: Broken metal and scorched Mars make the impact site of Opportunity's heat shield one of the more interesting sites inspected by the rolling robot . Visible on the image left is the conical outer hull of the shattered heat shield expelled by Opportunity as it plummeted toward Mars last year. ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...