William Mook wrote:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30943696/ETDHLRLV
http://www.scribd.com/doc/31261680/Etdhlrlv-Addendum

You can use wings on the first, and maybe on the second stage rockets,
to slow down descent, but parachutes are cheaper. The solid rocket
boosters of the Space Shuttle use parachutes to slow down before
splashdown.

Technical posts belong in sci.space.tech.