DEFINITION:

The landing phase begins with the final preparations for touchdown (such as the deployment of surface interaction systems) and ends with the landing event itself, which is complete when the kinetic energy of impact has been dissipated and the vehicle is at zero velocity relative to the surface. The landing event may also include an egress or deployment phase to bring the system to operational state. The landing phase surface sensing may begin before the descent phase ends, resulting in an overlap between the two phases. The key areas of technology development are the systems to sense the surface, descent propulsion motors and plume surface interaction mitigation, touchdown systems, high-g survivable systems, and small-body guidance.

(Source: NASA TA9.3)

SUBDOMAINS:

1. Propulsion and Touchdown Systems: Systems that enable safe, robust contact with a solid surface. In some cases, the touchdown could be destructive for some objective (e.g., a penetrator).
2. Egress and Deployment Systems: These are methods to allow a robotic element or a human to exit the landed vehicle and commence surface operations.
3. Propulsion Systems: This area includes requirements specification and implementation of rocket engines that are used for maneuvering the vehicle in the direction of the target and (potentially) avoiding hazards either in the atmosphere or on the ground.