In the book the Martian (Andy weird) (I highly recommend it)
A martian mission needs 14 landings;
12 pre supply launches (containing the hab, solar powers rovers etc);
1 unmannend MAV (Mars ascend vehicle lands 24 months before the next mission starts so it can make it's fuel)
and 1 MDV (mars decent Vehicle).
The book is never really clear how the 12 presupply missions land apart from it's a balloon fest. (similar to how sojourner landed)
Would it be possible/desirable to keep the 12 pre supply missions in orbit and somehow attach them to the MDV to make sure, that they all land in the same spot and keep the landing zone as small as possible?
Or would this be insanely dangerous?
If the idea is somewhat plausible could LIDAR be used to keep the crafts separate enough for the parachutes to not interfere with each other.
the LIDAR explains why theirs not 12 random radios laying around that Mark(the books main character) could have used.
It could also be used to determine the duststorm near the end of the book.
the LIDAR's could also be used for surveying the region around the hab, geological experiments (seismology); atmospheric physics and laser guidance.