From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article <1109282176.594199.45270@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,   
   Mark Street  wrote:   
   >Presumably, the center of mass is near the base of the capsule, but   
   >offset slightly from the axis of symmetry to give the Soyuz an angle of   
   >attack into the relative wind.  This would generate a bit of lift to   
   >avoid following a pure ballistic trajectory.   
      
   Correct.  As with Apollo etc., following a pure-ballistic trajectory is a   
   backup strategy for a guidance failure (you set up a continuous slow roll   
   that zeroes out the average lift).   
      
   >Can anyone point me towards information that precisely locates the mass   
   >center?   
      
   Alas, no detailed info on hand...   
   --   
   "Think outside the box -- the box isn't our friend."    |   Henry Spencer   
                                   -- George Herbert       | henry@spsystems.net   
      
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