On a side note, the scout ship does in fact have a strong enough tractor beam, however they wanted to bring home an example of the best sailplane earthlings have and this one was a Js-1, not a Schempp-Hirth which explains why it was unable to make it back to the airport in the first place.

this:

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/...1/848/cold.jpg