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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lkdood" data-source="post: 10810850" data-attributes="member: 92282"><img src="http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/nasa081211/s_n16_011-5878.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at  NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory  (MSL) rover (upper left, folded), is being prepared to be moved to a  rotation fixture for testing. The spacecraft's backshell (right), will  carry the parachute and several components used during later stages of  entry, descent and landing. The backshell and the heat shield (previous  image) combine to make a protective aeroshell for the rover. The module  in the center is the Sky Crane, which will hold the rover inside the  aeroshell, then, when it's very close to the Martian surface, it will  fire its rockets, hovering, and slowly lower the rover to the ground. </blockquote>

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