Orbiter (sim)
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| Orbiter (2006 Edition) | |
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| Developer(s) | Martin Schweiger |
| License | Freeware |
| Version | 2006P1 |
| Platform(s) | PC (Microsoft Windows) |
| Release date | May 4, 2006 (first patch released September 29, 2006) |
| Genre(s) | Simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer (Beta) |
| Media | Free download |
| Input methods | Keyboard, mouse, and joystick (optional) |
Orbiter is a closed source freeware space flight simulator for the Windows operating system. The first version was released on November 27, 2000 and is an ongoing project that has been under development ever since. The latest version is release 060929 from September 29, 2006.
Contents |
[edit] About the simulator
Orbiter was created by Martin Schweiger, Ph. D, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre For Medical Image Computing at University College London, known also for his publications and presentations in the field of optical tomography.
It is function-oriented, with the interface focused on maneuvering the spacecraft, rather than perspective-oriented, as in 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 a "Delta-Glider."
Orbiter contains the realism necessary to re-enact historical space flights while the ability to fly more futuristic ships allows the player to make timely travel around the solar system. A spacecraft's engines are defined only by the amount of thrust it puts out and amount of fuel used. This allows anything from solar sails, to conventional rocket engines, to futuristic nuclear 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 and the eight planets. Pluto[1], asteroids[2], and comets are not included but can be added via add-ons (Many other addons are available from websites such as Orbit Hangar which contains, as of April 2008, over 1800 addons[1]). 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.
Along with this is a planetarium mode with three main features. Ecliptic and celestial grids can be overlaid onto the starmap 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.
Orbiter aims to be a realistic simulator rather than an arcade game. Planetary motion, gravitation effects, free space and atmospheric flight are accurately modeled. Space physics and orbital mechanics can be complicated, and the learning curve is very steep even for those familiar with flight sims. 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 unknown, but experiments show that the program becomes less stable during spacecraft travel at many orders of magnitude of the speed of light.
The traditional control interface 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 you an unobstructed view and all relevant information is readily at hand. 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, without changing the heading of the ship.
The default version of Orbiter has no sound. However, a popular addon called Orbiter Sound[2] is available[3]. It provides ambient sound in the cabin, radio chatter, engine noises and other sounds. 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.
[edit] Included spacecraft
Orbiter's standard distribution includes real and fictional spacecraft and space stations:
[edit] Real vessels
- Space Shuttle Atlantis
- The Orbiter version of a Space Shuttle. It does not have the guidance systems and autopilots of the real Space Shuttle, which makes it one of the hardest spacecraft to fly in Orbiter. To make it a bit easier, the flight model has more propellant than the real Space Shuttle and its engines are a bit more effective.
- Space Station Mir
- Orbiter's model of the historic Russian space station. Unlike its real counterpart, it was not deorbited and is placed in an orbit which is closer to the ecliptic plane. This was done initially to make Mir a good origin of interplanetary flights in earlier versions of Orbiter, when Orbiter also automatically refueled spacecraft on docking with a space station. Using the scenario editor, it's still possible to refuel in-flight or start the simulation docked and with full tanks.
- International Space Station
- In a similar orbit as the real ISS and in a completed state, it shows many modules which will never get installed on the real ISS.
- Hubble Space Telescope
- A model of the real HST, it gets used together with Orbiter's Space Shuttle Atlantis.
- Long Duration Exposure Facility Satellite
- Like the Hubble Space Telescope, it's one of the example payloads for Orbiter's Space Shuttle.
[edit] Fictional vessels
- Delta-glider Mk. 4
- A delta wing spaceplane, which is rather easy to fly and thus good for the first steps into Orbiter. A variant of the Delta-glider Mk.4 is also included, the Delta-glider-S, which trades some of the propellant capacity for a scramjet propulsion system. It's possible to travel from Earth to Mars with the Delta-glider, making it possible to practice interplanetary missions.
- Shuttle-A
- A small space freighter, which can transport six large cargo containers with a total mass of 120 metric tons. It doesn't have an aerodynamic hull so it is at home on the Moon and Mars. Its cargo containers are equipped with automatic parachutes. Using the parachutes, it's possible to simulate a cargo run from a lunar base to Earth and back, dropping the cargo while still in the upper atmosphere. Its high inertia and inferior aerodynamics make it harder to fly than the Delta-glider.
- Shuttle-PB
- A small personal spacecraft, with high agility and a futuristic performance. As its main purpose is to serve as simple SDK example for add-on developers, it lacks many complex details of other included ships in Orbiter, like for example 2D or 3D cockpits or animations.
- Dragonfly
- A complex manned space tug for the construction of space stations. It simulates its various subsystems at a higher complexity than all other standard spacecraft in Orbiter, being a good example of the technical possibilities of Orbiter's SDK. Its flight model is also within the possibilities of current technology, making it a so-called "nearly realistic" spacecraft.
- Lunar Wheel station
- A fictional wheel shaped station in lunar orbit. As a rotating space station, it is a challenge to dock with it.
- Carina
- A small fictional science satellite, which is used as payload on Orbiter's Space Shuttle. It is a completely inert payload currently. It is based on a proposed European reentry capsule experiment, to be launched on the Ariane 4, which later resulted in the ARD[3].
[edit] Orbiter add-ons
Orbiter has attracted a sizable number of people centered around several forums and repositories, such as Orbit Hangar Mods. While the source is not editable, an extensive API enables Orbiter users to contribute by creating add-ons. Many spacecraft are available for download as add-ons, ranging from the Soviet Vostok spacecraft to Project Mercury and the Apollo program[4][5]. Add-ons are also available for new bases, MFD modes, extensions of the simulation menu, space stations, planets, and even other solar systems. Since Orbiter 2006, a scenario editor is included, which can also be extended for supporting the special attributes of add-on vessels.
[edit] Examples
[edit] Real-world
- Apollo program - Project Apollo NASSP[4] or AMSO[5]
- Ariane 5 [6]
- Space Shuttle program (Shuttle Fleet) [7] by David413
- Soyuz TMA
- Space Shuttle Buran [8]
- V-2 Rocket
- Vanguard 1
- Space Ship One
[edit] Fictional
- Deepstar [9]
- DeltaGlider IV [10]
- U.S.S. Discovery One and Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov
- Orion Nuclear Spacecraft (based on the real world Project Orion) [11]
- Super Millennium Falcon [12]
- The Rocket Company DH-1
- Thunderbird 3
- Tug eXperimental
- DeltaGlider XR1 [13] See Latest Releases section.
- Serenity [14]
[edit] References
- ^ Orbit Hangar Search Page. Retrieved on 2008-4-11.
- ^ Orbiter Sound homepage
- ^ ESA ACRV on Astronautix.com. Retrieved on 2008-4-5.
- ^ Project Apollo - NASSP. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
- ^ AMSO - Apollo Mission Simulator for Orbiter. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
- Orbiter: Manual - current manual for Orbiter
- Orbiter: A Free Spacecraft Simulation Tool (.PDF) |(.PPT) - general presentation of Orbiter by the author
- Spacecraft simulation and visualisation with Orbiter 2006 (.PDF) (12 MB PPT) - Recent technical developments in Orbiter, by the author
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Orbiter official website
- List of related websites
- New Official Orbiter Forum
- Orbit Hangar Mods - One of the largest Orbiter addon repositories
- OrbiterWiki
- Review: Orbiter space flight simulator on The Space Review
- "Orbiter Italia" - Italian Orbiter Web Site
- Dan's Orbiter Page
