[somat]

Why would you need more range returning from a polar orbit? The point of a polar orbit is to make more land features available under the orbit. Shouldn't this give a more flexable deorbit profile?

edit, I actually read the posted message. The requirement was for a once around then land. so consider my question unasked. Salutes

[MichaelCollins]

Yep, once around then landing. I think they didn't want to hang around in orbit after doing something that sketchy. I think this sort of capability / mission profile spooked the Soviets; it seemed like a capability that would be useful to an orbital bomber.