The shuttle flies a controlled energy management profile from deorbit to landing, my likely be the most reasearched vehicle in terms of flight dynamics as to energy/distance/atmospheric conditions.
The shuttle flies towards the selected HAC (Heading alignment cylender) for the runway selected, on the way in during hypersonic flight, launch energy must be dissipated, this is accomplished by a series of S-turns, usually two of them in sequenbce, with up to a 45 deg bank (if one doubts this, watch the MSC shuttle attitude monitors during the re entry sequence).
They have readouts as to the limits of range available, energy state, and the system also projects this information in vertical and horizontal formats, projecting the future position of the shuttle at 40, 40, and 60 seconds (horozontal flight situation disp).
A very highly orchestrated sequence, from de-orbit to landing.
The program in question is called Precision Approach. One can DL a demo here:
http://www.binarystarltd.com/pa_demo.htm
I have the full version on Disk, if there is interest, please email me and I can upload the contents to my website for DL.
As for the rest, geez mon, just paste a link:
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/...ml#mes_deorbit
[ 04 August 2001: Message edited by: RW-1 ]