Orbiter: The free space flight simulator - "Fucking DeltaV, how does it work?" - Games

[img]http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/orbiter_logo.png[/img] [quote=Wikipedia]Orbiter is a function-oriented simulator, with the interface focused on maneuvering the spacecraft, rather than a perspective-oriented simulator such as Celestia. Orbiter allows any user to explore the solar system on a number of spacecraft: both realistic, such as the Space Shuttle Atlantis; and fictional, such as the "Delta-Glider." Orbiter is realistic enough to re-enact historical space flights, while at the same time the ability to fly fictional ships allows the player to make timely travel around the solar system. A spacecraft's engines are defined only by the amount of thrust they put out and amount of fuel they use. This allows anything from solar sails to conventional rocket engines, to futuristic nuclear fission and fusion drives to be simulated. Orbital, sub-orbital, and interplanetary travel are all supported. Docking and attachment systems allow the player to perform a docking with a space station or other spacecraft and also rendezvous with and retrieve a satellite. The player can even build a space station in orbit. Orbiter's solar system consists of the sun, the eight planets and their major moons. Dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets are not included but exist as add-ons. Although Orbiter contains a database of over 100,000 stars, these are for display purposes only and interstellar travel is currently not possible in Orbiter. Also included is a planetarium mode with three main features. Ecliptic and celestial grids can be overlaid onto the star map along with labels of the constellations and other celestial markers. Secondly, labels indicating the location and identity of objects in the solar system, such as planets, moons, or vessels, can be activated to appear within a certain proximity based on their type. Finally, labels can be put on the celestial bodies in the solar system at certain coordinates on their surface for indicating cities, historical markers, geological formations, and other interesting sites. The Delta Glider in low Venusian orbit, showing the 3D Virtual Cockpit, including Multi-functional displays (MFDs) and the Head-up Display (HUD) Orbiter aims to be a realistic simulator rather than an arcade game. Planetary motion, gravitation effects, free space and atmospheric flight are accurately modeled. The position of the planets in the solar system is calculated by the VSOP87 solution, the Earth-Moon system is simulated by the ELP2000 model. Space physics and orbital mechanics can be complicated, and the learning curve is very steep even for those familiar with flight simulations. Because it uses newtonian physics, faster-than-light travel is possible without any of the adverse effects that would be experienced in real life. The limits for velocity and distance from the sun are 1.79769 x 10^308 m/s and 1.79769 x 10^308 m, respectively, or 5.82593 x 10^291 parsecs, displayed as "5e+291pc" in the game. Once the value exceeds this, it resets to "1e+000pc" and remains there until the game is restarted. However, experiments show that the program becomes less stable during spacecraft travel at many orders of magnitude of the speed of light. The traditional simulated control interface in Orbiter consists of two Multi-function displays and a Head-Up Display. Each features several modes of operation. In this mode all commands are given via the keyboard or mouse. It gives an unobstructed view and all relevant information. The simulator also supports customized control panels and instruments, including 3D virtual cockpits and 2D instrument panels. These allow the player to use the mouse to interact with the panels, and allows more complex systems and instruments that are customized for each ship. The addition of a virtual cockpit also allows the player to freely look around from the perspective of the pilot. The default version of Orbiter has no sound. However, a popular add-on called "OrbiterSound" is available. It provides engine noises, ambient sounds in the cabin, radio chatter and other sounds including mp3 playlists. Options enable the user to maintain a realistic silence when the craft is viewed externally during space flight. The patch 060929 features support for TrackIR.[/quote] Orbiter 2010 was just recently released! [quote] * Higher resolution planetary surfaces. Texture resolutions up to level 14 (equivalent to a resolution of approximately 80m/pixel for Earth) are now supported. The standard distribution comes with a global level 11 Earth texture, and local level 14 for Florida. * Embedded scripting language. Orbiter now contains plugin modules and API support for running scripts from within the simulation. Scripts can be used for a variety of tasks, such as spacecraft and MFD definitions, autopilots, mission scripting and interactive tutorials. * Separation of the graphics and rendering subsystem from the simulation core. The Orbiter code base has been revised to isolate the rendering module from the physics simulation. This allows to plug in external graphics clients for improved visual appearance, or to run Orbiter without graphics support in server mode. * Improved physics. The atmosphere model for Earth has been significantly improved and now supports micro-drag at high altitudes (up to 2500km). Support for planetary axis precession has been added. * More powerful 2-D instrument panels and HUD displays with automatic rescaling for variable screen resolutions and smooth animations of panel elements. The Delta-glider contains a reference implementation of the new panel system. [/quote] media: [img]http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/images/Default/Atlantis_launch2.jpg[/img] [img]http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/images/Default/Atlantis_launch.jpg[/img] [img]http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/images/Default/ssail.jpg[/img] [img]http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/images/Default/Jovian_system.jpg[/img] Mods: [url]http://www.orbithangar.com/[/url] - A huge repository of Orbiter mods [url]http://orbiter.dansteph.com/[/url] - Has things such as OrbiterSound, Deltaglider IV, etc. [url]http://www.dougsorbiterpage.com/index.html[/url] - has the XR5 Vanguard, DeltaGlider-XR1, and XR2 Ravenstar. [url]http://www.acsoft.ch/AMSO/amso.html[/url] - AMSO, a mod that gives you the ability to simulate the Apollo program. This game is tons of fun if you're into this sort of thing like me, only downside i've found is that it can be very time consuming, especially on trips to the outer solar system.

What new is there in 2010?

[QUOTE=Orkel;22475429]What new is there in 2010?[/QUOTE] Higher resolution planetary surfaces, improved physics, and more powerful 2D instrument panels and HUD displays, among other things. OP updated with the news release on the website.

It crashed as soon as I start a mission from the launcher.

You got this from that thread asking for space games

Love my Newtonian physics

Oh sweet, 2010 version. I have to try this.

Holy fuck I thought he had abandoned it in 2006.