What part of Mars Rover or Mars satellite has this cone object fallen from?

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Screenshot 2026-03-09 081150.webp


Note the cone shaped object partially embedded in the surface at the lower right, see original at:

https://mars.nasa.gov/raw_images/1108577/

What part of any Rover has it? If it fell down from one of the orbiting Mars satellite. Won't the reentry burn it? I presume Mars has totally no atmosphere so any object falling into it won't get burnt?
 
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Julian_M said:
View attachment 370059

Note the cone shaped object partially embedded in the surface at the lower right, see original at:

https://mars.nasa.gov/raw_images/1108577/

What part of any Rover has it? If it fell down from one of the orbiting Mars satellite. Won't the reentry burn it? I presume Mars has totally no atmosphere so any object falling into it won't get burnt?
Could this be the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mars Descent Imager (MARDI)? That has a cone shape.

1773016679042.webp


https://www.msss.com/science/msl-mardi-instrument-description.php
 
Julian_M said:
Your link gives this raw image at NASA, which is a different photo from the one you showed, and contains no cone. Where did your photo actually come from?
1773018697337.webp

EDIT: Sorry, I spoke too soon! The cone is at the right side below the middle. So your question is definitely valid! But where did the color version come from?
 
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renormalize said:
Your link gives this raw image at NASA, which is a different photo from the one you showed, and contains no cone. Where did your photo actually come from?
View attachment 370063
Did he find the photo from a news article instead of NASA? Sometimes the lower quality news articles, especially tabloids, may Photoshop in objects or use AI to get clicks
 
Google images says:
This scene was captured by the rover's Mast Camera (Mastcam) during its mission to study the geology of Mars in 2022.
NASA has not officially commented on this mysterious cylindrical object.
 

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