Add technology that costs 3 different science packs from all other planets that goes something like "Cargo Pod Landing Algorithm" or you come up with something, that basically makes cargo pods able to land anywhere disabling the breaking them thing.

^ It could also resolve the Aquilo problem... ANDDD If you decide to land in aquilo, withouth the research, then you basically are stuck.

However, to avoid that maybe you can add something like a probability of "lucky landing": when the cargo pod drops, It has a 5% probability of "surviving" the landing. It could also be configurable.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've created a new mod in similar spirit to what's been discussed - https://mods.factorio.com/mod/cargo-pod-requires-research