[sci.space.shuttle] Skip Bounces and Zond.

Greg_d._Moore@mts.rpi.edu (Commander Krugannal) (12/22/90)

    Donald Heskett says:
     According to Kenneth Gatland, at least some of the Russian Zond lunar
    probes did perform "skip" re-entries. However, from his description,
    that this was not for purposes of lessening the re-entry heating. 
 
   I believe actually they used the skip to chance attitude so that 
   the Zond's could easily descend over the Soviet Union.  They
   needed to come in above the equator, but when they approached
   the earth, the Zond's were essentially on the equator.
 
   Greg_d._Moore@mts.rpi.edu