Well, you are moving at high speed say 11 000 m/s starting a re-entry/landing and how do do you control the angle of motion at that speed? How do you know where you are and your destination? And how to control heat while doing all this? There are many problems associated with steering a spacecraft to solve in order to win my Challenge. Dr. Buzz says it is all done by computers, so another question is ... what computer? What is the pilot supposed to do?
Well, if it were me using technology that is proven to work here is what I would do.
From lift off I would use ground radar, line of sight and radio... plus the ships radar and radio. Then when I got past mid orbit I would still use ground radio, but also use vector calculations and visual. If I got close to a planetary object I would then use the ships radar.
To return back I would use these same things.
To return into the earths atmosphere and slow down. I would calculation my trajectory at an angle that takes me into the thinner atmosphere first then further down into the thicker atmosphere. As my speed slowed I would drop faster as gravity would begin to win.
To monitor heat, I would use the same metal mounted sensors planes use to monitor temp in wings for possible icing. The tolerances of the fuselage and heat shielding will be known from prior tests.
Oh for controlling angle, your original entry will be based on vector and radar calculations, as at that speed in the atmosphere there isn't much you can do. Once you take down to slower speeds then you have flaps etc such as normal planes.
What does a pilot do? The same the a pilot does on modern air places that are mostly computer aided...there is still plenty.
This is how I would do it with tech that I know works. The funny thing, I seriously question the moon landing and believe it is a higher probability it was faked over true. However, the tech you question is kind silly, as we can see the proof it works here on Earth