Small Lander

Description
The Small Lander is a stationary science platform featuring integrated propulsive landing system, four legs for excellent support in sloped terrain and a rotating hardware platform with 360-degrees of movement. After the Probe this is a natural step of progression as the small lander has all the flexibility that the Probe does not, at the price of 250K and the fact that it is still stationary.

Descent Sequence
The parachute starts deployed and very shortly after the heat shield is ejected from the descent vehicle. When the lander approaches an altitude of ~1km it is released from its cover, engaging its internal propulsive descent stage. With this the lander can traverse a significant lateral distance in order to make up for eventual imprecise deorbit maneuvers.

Science Capabilities
The Small Lander has the ability to fit an Environmental Analysis Station alongside a Low-Gain Antenna giving the lander additional analyzing missions early on that can be completed with the benefit of increased funds gained per mission.

Ability to fit camera that can complete photo missions

Ability to fit robotic arm and soil analysis probe to take surface samples and completing further analysis missions.

Outfitting
The small lander has the ability to fit a robotic arm which has 3x small utility slots. The robotic arm has the ability to fit one or several soil analysis probes and other equipment needing to reach the surface proper.

2x - Large external utility slot: 2x - Small external utility slot: 4x - Internal power slot: 1x Robotic arm slot:
 * Low-Gain Antenna
 * Environmental Analysis Station
 * Environmental Monitoring Station
 * Cycloramic Tele-Focus Camera
 * Cycloramic Wide-Angle Camera
 * Basic Imager Tele-Focus
 * Basic Imager Wide-Angle
 * Basic Battery
 * Chemical Battery
 * Robotic Arm - Small Lander
 * 3x Small external utility slot
 * Soil Analysis Probe
 * Cycloramic Tele-Focus Camera
 * Cycloramic Wide-Angle Camera
 * Basic Imager Tele-Focus
 * Basic Imager Wide-Angle

Required Technology
Robotics & Engineering Optics & Electronics Software & Communications Chemistry & Geology Physics & Thermodynamics
 * Lander Chassis
 * Internal electronics
 * Automatic lander navigation software
 * Heat resistant ceramics
 * Atmospheric entry aerodynamics