Maybe you were not aware, but NASA recently landed a space probe on the Mars' North Pole in an attempt to find life (and if not life, at least organic molecules). The reason they chose the North Pole is because there's water in the form of ice, water of course being a requirement for life as we know it. Mitch actually helped put the lander, called Phoenix, get to Mars. He was part of the team that designed the Entry, Descent and Landing system. Here's a picture of the parachute in action, photographed by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Educate yourself. Go here.
