The possibility of a sideways component existing during landing, and the probability of rocks being around on the surface must surely have been considered.
So how to mitigate it? If accelerometers on the craft, integrated to provide sideways movement feedback would not suffice, then how about dropping a laser reflector to the surface from the craft before it landed to provide a static reference point on the surface for the craft to lock onto ?
Maybe this is what the LIDAR system was supposed to do, but do I understand that it was switched off or disabled to protect technicians during testing ?
Surely NASA uses checklists to ensure everything has been prepared and made fully operational before the craft is loaded onto the rocket and launched ?
"top-notch engineering" is being trumpeted, but I would dispute that.
How much did this mission all cost, only for the craft to fall over on landing ? It just beggars belief.
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Last edited by Uplinker; 26th Feb 2024 at 09:35.