A mission is not finished when the spacecraft stops moving.

Landing, recovery, sample return, crew care, data preservation and spacecraft inspection turn the end of flight into usable knowledge.

• Did the vehicle reach the intended end state?
• Can crew, samples or instruments be recovered safely?
• What physical evidence can be inspected?
• What scientific data must be preserved and analysed?
• What operational capability must remain in service afterward?

Recovery converts mission outcome into evidence that can be studied rather than merely celebrated.