On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:24:21 -0800, Ken Barnes wrote:


If you look closely at the one on the left (farside) landing skid, the
"sharp spike" appears to be a square plate with a hole in the center.


That seems correct. After just a cursory glance the attachments
appear pointed and sharp, but that's probably due to the particular
angle of the photograph. On close inspection the shadows cast by
those same points (the sunlight comes from almost directly overhead)
reveal a rather large central hole which would indicate a place
for hooks or something similar.

Anyway, only more images of the Cobra could settle the matter.

RF