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When a lunar lander approaches the surface, it has to reduce its speed while still controlling where it touches down. Why use engines that can throttle down rather than simply firing at full power in short bursts?
I’m wondering how engineers balance engine control with the Moon’s low gravity, the lander’s changing mass as fuel is used, and the need to avoid kicking up too much dust near the surface. What makes throttleable lunar lander engines useful during the final descent?
