There is not sufficient atmosphere on Mars to use either a parachute (not enough drag) or wings (not enough lift), so neither of those options work. Vertical l

There is not sufficient atmosphere on Mars to use either a parachute (not enough drag) or wings (not enough lift), so neither of those options work. Vertical landing of the rocket seems to be the only rapidly reusable architecture for landing on other planets - the primary purpose of this rocket (eventually). I'm not sure about other failure handling, you ask a good question and I don't have a great answer. But the mission requirements suggest that vertically landing the rocket is the only feasible landing method I think.