Hopefully not to logic-chop the point to death
The opted for a landing which was not in sight of Earth. Over the horizon. Trusting their ingenuity they threw the sucker into the air trusting it to come down they knew where, but couldn't see for a while.
You are correct, space creates a time delay, those landings are always beyond Earth's control, that's the way it goes, and I'm not aware of one which was not in a direct line of sight, were photons faster.
I'm still impressed.