  The cosmological consequences of a slow rolling scalar field with constant
kinetic term in analogy to the vertical movement of a skydiver after reaching
terminal velocity are investigated. It is shown that the terminal scalar field
hypothesis is quite realistic. In this approach, the scalar field potential is
given by a quadratic function of the field. This model provides solutions in
which the Universe was dominated in the past by a mixture of baryons and dark
matter, is currently accelerating (as indicated by type Ia supernovae data),
but will be followed by a contraction phase. The theoretical predictions of
this model are consistent with current observations, therefore, a terminal
scalar field is a viable candidate to dark energy.
