Heatshield from Mars exploration rover Opportunity. The heatshield was used to protect the spacecraft on entering the atmosphere. Opportunity was one of two rovers launched in the summer of 2003. On January 25 2004 it landed on Mars and began transmitting data back to Earth. Both rovers have since exceeded their projected lifespan and sent a huge amount of important scientific data on the geological make up of Mars. This image of the heatshield was taken by Opportunity 328 days into its mission, on Christmas Day 2004.