[grogenaut]

is there a reason they can't like come to a stop over the water and then land in it and just expand some floats?

[robotresearcher]

1. Salt water is very corrosive, and would require extensive rebuild of the engines. 2. They want the tech to land on Mars before too long.

[grogenaut]

I figured salt would be the reason. Also the thermal stress of quenching it.

Forgot about the mars aspect.