floating back to terra firma using three parachutes
Why the addiction to Thunderbirds & Tintin?
Fuel for landing needed if no atmosphere. But on Earth based launch and landing the "rocket equation" shows that more fuel is needed to lift the stage with the fuel to land than a parachute. So environmental damage and waste of resources twice, launch and landing.
Just use passive technologies such as parachutes for the launcher. It works for the capsule.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
