A missile including an upper stage and at least one lower stage is provided. The upper stage includes a primary flight computer configured to control a flight of the upper stage along a missile flight path such that, for example, it reaches a predetermined target. The lower stage is mounted to the upper stage and includes a propellant for initially propelling the upper stage along the missile flight path. The lower stage is configured to be jettisoned from the upper stage when the propellant is spent. The lower stage includes a secondary flight computer configured to receive data from the primary flight computer prior to the propellant of the lower stage being spent, and to control a flight of the lower stage along a jettisoned stage flight path of the jettisoned lower stage such that, for example, the jettisoned lower stage glides to a predetermined safe landing zone.