"Don't be surprised if a 'closer-look' is on JPL's agenda."

Be very VERY suprised if they go and take a closer look at Spirits heatshield.

They've already said it's something they're not particularly interested in doing - and the penalty in terms of time is certainly going to be > 10 days, perhaps two weeks - of very rough and possibly dangerous terrain, in a direction opposite to the way they want to go.

Remember, Surveyor 3 parts were brought back to see how it had stood up to being on the moon for a few years. Whereas the rover need only look at itself to see how it's standing up to being on mars.

With the opportunity (pun not intended) to visit Opportunities heatshield so very easily - then they would be stupid to go and visit Spirits - in terms of time need to do it.

And as for getting close to the parachutes - I dont think so. There is wind on mars, and the chutes could easily flap around. Theres a lot of chute material - and chute material + wind doesnt mix with rovers and solar arrays. They certainly wont be visiting Spirit's - and whilst it's not too far to Opportunities, it's out of the way comapred to the Endurance crater they want to visit.

Doug