In article ,
Pat Flannery wrote:
The Soviet sample return missions had no midcourse correction ability;
the return stage was launched toward the zenith of the Lunar heavens
over where the lander was positioned, and gravity did all the rest to
get it back to mother Russia...

Yep. Too much of a single-point design for my taste, especially given
modern electronics. Full guidance and a capability for small midcourse
corrections just isn't that big a deal any more.
--
MOST launched 30 June; science observations running | Henry Spencer
since Oct; first surprises seen; papers pending. |