Aeroshell With Perseverance Rover Descent To Mars Cushion

Artist's concept of the aeroshell containing the Perseverance rover descent to Mars, The aeroshell slows down using the drag generated by its motion in the Martian atmosphere. The cruise stage separates about 10 minutes before entering into the atmosphere, leaving the aeroshell, which encloses the rover and descent stage, to make the trip to the surface. The vehicle fires small thrusters on the backshell to reorient itself and make sure the heat shield is facing forward as it plunges into the atmosphere. As it descends through the atmosphere, the spacecraft fires these thrusters on its backshell to guide itself.