henry (06/13/82)
A water landing is not unrealistic for an *unmanned* prototype test. The ability to land on runways does not imply the ability to land on a runway without a pilot on board. Columbia could, in theory, do a completely automatic landing (although I think right now the computers do not have authority to lower the landing gear). But we all know the Soviets are behind in computers and electronics; I can easily imagine a decision to go for a water landing rather than deal with the complexities of automatic landings or remote-control piloting.