At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, and the spacecraft's descent stage have been enclosed inside the spacecraft's aeroshell.
This image, taken October 1, 2011, shows the aeroshell with its heat shield on top.
The heat shield and the spacecraft's back shell together form the encapsulating aeroshell that will protect the rover from the intense heat that will be generated as the flight system descends through the Martian atmosphere.
The mission is on track for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station during the period from November 25 to December 18, 2011.
Photo credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
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