Abstract: A ballistic descent vehicle comprises an airframe, one or more control surfaces for controlling a descent of the vehicle, a controller, and a sensor suite to estimate both relative position, velocity, and flight path angle. Such a controller guides the vehicle, via the control surfaces, based on the estimated vehicle states, and a preprogrammed equivalent airspeed versus flight path angle two dimensional surface. During flight, the controller periodically consults the pre-computed equivalent airspeed versus flight path angle surface to obtain a desired flight path angle such that the vehicle asymptotically approaches a desired terminal approach angle while successfully navigating to the target. The use of this preprogrammed surface allows for the control of such vehicles with significantly lower computational resources, smaller control surfaces, and/or without relative airflow sensors onboard.