From: utzoo!henry
Newsgroups: net.space
Title: splashdown of Russian shuttle 
Article-I.D.: utzoo.2164
Posted: Sat Jun 12 23:26:45 1982
Received: Sat Jun 12 23:26:45 1982

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.