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In the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 (SAEF-2), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) team is mating the Mars Pathfinder lander (lower element) with the backshell (suspended element) of the protective aeroshell. In this view, the backshell is being positioned above the lander, which is actually installed in the backshell by raising it from below. Parachutes will be installed on the backshell, and this assembly will be installed atop the heat shield -- the backshell and heat shield together comprise the Pathfinder's aeroshell. When the lander descends through the Martian atmosphere the deployed parachutes will help slow the lander down and then pull the backshell away from it. Other upcoming activities in SAEF-2 include mating the entry assembly of lander and aeroshell to the cruise stage and then mating the fully assembled Pathfinder to its upper stage booster. The spacecraft will then be transferred to Launch Complex 17B, where it will be installed atop a Delta II expendable launch vehicle. Liftoff is scheduled for Dec. 2 at the beginning of a 24-day launch period.