QUESTION:
What was the maximum entry angle of the Pathfinder without the heatshield
failing?

ANSWER from Pieter Kallemeyn on August 9, 1997:
The nominal flight path angle was -14.2 degrees (negative means it was below
the horizon).  Our requirement was to ensure the actual flight path angle
was within 1 degree of the nominal (the actual number was -14.06 degrees, an
error of 0.14 deg.).

We could have probably tolerated a flight path angle as steep as -15.5
degrees without the heatshield failing, but would have opened the parachute
too low an altitude and crashed.  Best guesses have the heatshield failing
at an angle of 16.2 degrees below horizon.

Pieter Kallemeyn