on the surface. all the things that have to happen, these are the heat shields, when it hits the atmosphere to slow down a bit, then a parachute that goes out super sonically, and then it has a rocket-propelled crane that basically covers over the surface and lowers the rover down on whe winches to the surf. then it flies away and rover is on the surface, hopefully in one mission to start its itio one pe to start its mission. patti ann: what if they find out there was life on mars? that would be amazing. if we find nex life on the next planet in our own solar system, we know life was probably pretty prevalent all throughout the universe. it answers the basic question, we re not alone. the big thing they re looking for is did the conditions for life or do they exist on mars. that would be a tremendous find. they actually find signs of life