Vertical Landing
Vertical Landing
During vertical landing, the rocket engines are used not only for ascent but also for returning the stage to Earth. There are two main variants of this approach: Rocket-powered return to the launch site and landing on a floating platform in the sea at a greater distance from the launch site (known as downrange landing and shown here in blue). In both scenarios, the engines are ignited as the rocket re-enters the atmosphere, to reduce the high heat and other forces on the stage. This process was systematically studied in the EU-funded RETALT project, which was led by DLR. Shortly before landing, the landing legs are deployed above the planned site. The stage is then precisely positioned using an engine and decelerated for a soft touchdown. If the reusable stage is to return to the launch site, it is turned around immediately after upper stage separation. The engines then ignite to reverse its velocity and guide it back to the launch site. This manoeuvre requires a significant amount of fuel, even before the engines are used again, similar to landing downrange on an ocean platform.
