Patent ID: 8424808

Claim:
A method performed by a reusable launch vehicle for compensating for wind prior to engaging propulsion during approach to landing in a powered slowdown configuration, comprising: beginning un-powered descent; determining a first rotation angle of the reusable launch vehicle about a specified vertical descent path, the first rotation angle corresponding to a first attitude of the reusable launch vehicle selected to stabilize the reusable launch vehicle on the vertical descent path based on a wind speed and angle; and prior to engaging a main propulsion device in the powered slowdown configuration, commanding a second rotation angle for the reusable launch vehicle, the second rotation angle corresponding to a second attitude that, when the main propulsion device is engaged, will cause the reusable launch vehicle to remain at least approximately at the vertical descent path, wherein a thrust vector of the main propulsion device generally points towards a planetary source of gravity during all phases of flight.