A space simulator can be as simple as a spacecraft
simulation program running on your PC or as elaborate
as a detailed, full scale hardware simulation of a shuttle
cockpit.
Or perhaps it's a large scale group simulation carried
out over the internet in which the participants play
different roles, e.g. mission controllers or astronauts,
in carrying out a mission scenario such as launching
a satellite from the shuttle.
This section provides links and descriptions of all
sorts of web resources related to both software and
hardware space simulations.
A selection of collaborative
simulation projects intended primarily for educational
and entertainment purposes. Several simulators involve
both software and hardware aspects to them.
Flight Deck of the Audrey
full-scale space flight simulator.
Courtesy
Jason Reskin
Mars Millennium
Project
This nationwide project in the US seeks to involve students
from kindergarten through in high school in designing
a Mars colony for the year 2030. Supported by several
major organizations including NASA, National Endowment
for the Arts, J.Paul Getty Trust, and others.
Odyssey
Space Lab - "a 12 foot-long, full-scale replica
of a space laboratory module that would be found as
a part of the International Space Station."
Orion
Shuttle - "12 foot-long motion-controlled
flight simulator that resembles the Space Shuttle
and gives students the sensation of piloting a spacecraft
in low Earth orbit. "
Mission
Control - "has a complete set of teleconferencing
and Internet links that correspond with workstations
aboard the Odyssey SpaceLab. Mission Control is also
equipped to teleconference with cadets piloting the
Orion flight simulator at a third school."
Red
Rover, Red Rover
The Planetary Society
sponsors this ambitious educational project that allows
students to simulate the experience of controlling robotic
rovers on Mars.
The students build small robots
(from LEGO DACTA parts) with video cameras and a simulated
Marscape for it to explore. Software is provided so
that the students can control the robot and recieve
the video from the robot.
The robots can also be controlled over the internet
so students can control the rovers at other student
sites on the web.
Equipment/software packages are available.
SimNASA SimNASA is an "independent volunteer educational
organization open to all flight simulation" hobbyists.
The participants simulate "aeronautics and space
operations over the Internet using Microsoft’s Flight
Simulator and Orbiter. SimNASA's
objective is to simulate aeronautics and space operations
as performed in the REAL WORLD."
Dean
Shuttle Simulators
Most of the following information was sent to me by
Mr. Dean:
James Dean worked at the Johnson Space Center from
1990 to 2001 first in the astronaut support office
for five years and then the lead for the ISSP Outreach
and Education group. One of the things he did on the
side was to develop a high fidelity, hands-on Space
Shuttle launch and on-orbit simulation program.
The full environment includes;
Full size Shuttle flight deck
All NASA Shuttle training manuals
All Flight Data File manuals KSC launch procedure
(all volumes)
JSC crew training CDs
Use of Mac MECO STK Precision Approach Launch
videos
On-orbit full rev "out the window" Earth view
videos.
He is building 6 functional flight decks for various
museums and schools around the country. For example,
he is doing a Shuttle simulation program for a new
organization in Colorado Springs Colorado, the National
Space Science & Technology Institute. The
2003
Rocky Mountain Astronomy workshop page includes
photos of the simulator.
He also just completed a launch simulation course
at a local middle school.
He offers a package of materials that a school can
use for Shuttle training and operations course. All
they need is a PC, a Mac, a TV, a video cassete player
and a stereo.
All the NASA material was acquired through work at
NASA and is all in the public domain.
He does not take payment for his services but builds
the simulators in his spare time. He gives them to
organizations that cannot afford the museum quality
versions that companies like
Space1.com produce and doesn't want don't want
to compete with them.
He offers plans for construction of the shell, framework,
and interior panels. The power system, caution and
warning system, lighting system, and AC power distribution
system are patterned from Shuttle schematics.
All this is available to anyone that would like to
undertake a project like this.
Mars Academy
was a a wondeful and elaborate site that supported
"... an educational collaborative project
to design and simulate a manned mission to the
Red Planet. Browse through our extensive collection
of Mars related resources at the Academy and participate
with our members from all over the world in the
design of the mission at the Mars Mission Design
Center."
"...engaged students on four continents
in an extended space simulation covering many
months. This project sought to overcome some of
the limitations inherent in short-term educational
space simulations by increasing the duration of
the simulation."
MoonCity - LunarSat
* MoonCity at University of Innsbruck LunarSat
was a European project to send a small spacecraft
to orbit the moon to carry out several scientific
tasks, especially to confirm the presence of water
ice at the polar regions.
Educational activities
are intended to be a major part of the project.
The MoonCity program involves students in to design
and simulate bases on the moon.
At the University
of Innsbruck about "340 students worked
for an entire semester to create a far future city
on the Moon to host roughly 2000 people."
A follow-on to this activity was the MoonCivilization
program that involved "...students from all
over Europe are planning -in groups, so-called "MoonTeams"
or alone - to virtually colonize the Moon."
SolSys
- College student teams compete in online simulation
exploration.
SpaceAvailable,
LLC -"plans to establish Space Frontier
Experience Centers (SFrECs) at space centers and science
museums throughout the world. The SFrECs will feature
various virtual space experience "modules" offering
everything from short, 30-minute to one-hour simulations
to weekend and longer adventures...."
Space
Explorers, Inc. - commercial education firm
that offers classroom mission simulation programs
with lesson plans
Mission:
Solar System - includes separate simulation
missuons for Mars rover , Mars orbiter, Lunar
Prospector, and Near Earth Asteroid rendesvous.
Virtual Shuttle was a spectacular site created
by students in the Space Club at St.Peter's School
in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The interactive real
time simulation of a shuttle mission allowed one
to
"...participate in a simulation of a complete
Space Shuttle mission together with other virtual
astronauts and mission controllers from all over
the world. "
Amusment
Park Space Simulation Rides
+ Space Theme Parks
Red
Planet Expeditions, Inc. (RPE) - "setting
out to build, market, and license the world's
first Mars-themed adventure resort that will authentically
simulate what it will be like to be on an expedition
on Mars in the year 2035." John Spencer of
the Space
Tourism Society is a co-founder.
Spaceport
- space theme attraction near Liverpool, England
The following section lists various space
related simulation programs. These can be in game or
exploration formats. The simulators include commercial
programs and others are freeware or shareware.
A number of the following simulators are
no longer sold commercially by the original companies.
This has become quite common as technology moves on.
However, many of these old programs are still quite
playable and remain in demand.
So a number of abandonware
sites have arisen on the net that provide free downloads
of copies of such orphaned programs. The legality of
such services, though, is highly in dispute but some
sites make an effort to state the legal status of a
each program (e.g. Underdogs ).
Check also these sections for online and offline space
related programs:
Apollo 18
Detailed CDROM simulation of the Apollo modules from
AIM Software. The AIM site has long disappeared but
the game can still be obtained from some software
retailers.
Includes realistic command and lunar module controls,
multiple landing sites, mission control radio transmissions,
200 page technical manual, etc. Now available in the
US.
Buzz Aldrin's Race to Space This is a DOS game from Interplay, although
no longer listed in their catalog. It became available
on CDROM in 1994 and
"..features over 20 historic and proposed
plans to reach the moon"..." The players'
mission is to be the first to put their nation's
flag on the moon"..." resources include
that of over 140 astronauts or cosmonauts from
which the player will plan, manipulate and direct
every possible mission: sub-orbital; orbital manned
and unmanned; planetary and lunar fly-bys; lunar
orbits; space-walks; LEM tests; lunar passes;
and lunar landings"...."over 60 minutes
of full-motion video."
Virtual
AGC - Apollo Guidance Computer Emulation
Detailed, faithful emulation of the Apollo guidance
computer. Open source project with source code available.
Executables available for Linux and Windows.
Could be used as a module in a general Apollo/LM
simulation. For example, Mark
Grant is working to incorporate it into the
Orbiter
simulator. Developer
Info
A-OK! The Wings
Of Mercury
"A-OK! The Wings of Mercury is a realistic simulation
of the Mercury spacecraft. It features 3D graphics,
fully functional control panels, networked simulations,
and a complete manual.
Version 3.5 is now available on Windows XP and Mac
OS X. A-OK! WoM is so realistic, you will use the
actual checklists used by the astronauts. Orbital
and Sub-Orbital missions can be simulated. Orbital
missions and a Mission Control Center simulator are
available to registered users."
Binary
Star LTD
This company, founded by 2 former flight dynamics officers
at NASA, offers several space simulation programs. Unfortunately,
the programs are intended for museums and arcades settings
and so are extremely expensive.
MS3
- Mission Simulation Software intended for large installations
such as at museum or space camp situation.
The following programs can still be found on the
Binary Star website but are no longer for sell:
Celestia:
A 3D Space Simulator
"Celestia is real-time 3D space simulation which
lets you travel through our solar system and to over 100,000
stars in our neighborhood."
"...3D dexterity game about asteroid mining
in deep space. You are a Beltminer. You have been
issued a Prospector mining craft in order to land
on asteroids and stake a cliam on valuable minerals.
These minerals will be used for the good of the space
station Terra. Your ultimate goal is to find water...and
construct an Ice-water extractor on an asteroid.
At the end of each mission, you will will have to
spend a percentage of you credits on repairing the
Prospector, buying Mineral Beacons, and re-fueling
your craft. Once you collect enough resources...you
will be able to build an Ice Water Extractor."
" LIFTOFF is the first in a series of space
simulations. There is almost no limit to what you
can do with this long awaited - very cool - software!
Take a virtual tour of the space shuttle, take it
apart and reassemble it, manipulate it and experiment
with weightlessness. You'll even find detailed virtual
reality animations.
Discover the history of Space Exploration including
the history of rocketry and the space race, a much-needed
glossary of acronyms and a timeline extending from
the 17th century.
Plus you'll find teacher material and resources
included! And, last but not least and our favorite...astronaut
training! Feel the power as you launch into space
and take command of the Space Shuttle from launch
through orbit, solve problems, deal with emergencies,
talk to Mission Control and roam in weightlessness
through the Shuttle cockpit and crew area."
Lunar
Landers / Lunar Explorers Lunar landers were among the first of computer games
and are still popular. Controlling the thrust and orientation
of the vehicle for a smooth landing can be quite a challenge.
Landing simulators are available at varying levels of
realism.
Lunar
Explorer - a "fully immersive, interactive,
Virtual Reality simulation of the Moon. It is
a vivid and stunningly realistic visual experience
of being on the Moon"
Eagle
Lander - 3D - hi-res 3-D simulation of "
final minutes of the Apollo 11 landing on the
moon at the point that the automatic landing sequence
was stopped and manual flight control began."
ILM
: Icarus, the Lunar Module: Ivan Scheers is creating
this MS Windows based simulator of an Apollo Lunar
Module with realistic flying behavior and mission
types.
The project is still in development but beta versions
are available on request. He also will consider
volunteer assistance in finishing it.
Lunar
Contact - Apollo 17 lander simulator (priced for
museums and exhibitions.)
Lunar
Lander Simulator - ASR : ASR, Applied Space Resources,
is developing an actual spacecraft for lunar exploration.
Their web site provides a realistic lunar lander simulation:
"The Lunar Retriever I Mission Control Simulator
is javascript application created to give allow
people to experience landing a spacecraft like
the Lunar Retriever I on the surface of the Moon.
Unlike other 'simulators' it uses real-life values
and rocket physics. Also, since the Moon is approximately
1.5 light seconds away, commands to the spacecraft
are delayed in-transit to further enhance the
experience. So that it does not require an additional
1.5 seconds for the spacecraft telemetry to update
on the simulator screen, the simulator determines
when the commands reach the spacecraft and then
predicts the telemetry change in advance of actually
receiving it." - ASR web site
Federation
of Galaxy Explorers (FOGE) organization has
sponsored development of this educational game
in which adventures are based around the building
of a lunar base.
MoonBaseOne
blog where you can get news on the game development
and download the latest version.
Maestro
Headquaters - download special viewer for Mars
rover data. Home version of program used at JPL
Drive
on Mars - rover simulations, on line and offline
GeoPlayer
Mars Demo - "Navigate the whole planet of
Mars, fly from location to location, explore the terrain,
view the landing sites. Experience GeoFusion's amazing
visualization technology yourself!"
Planetary
Rover - under development at HyperKat
Games by Howard Dortch. Currently moves over a
general planetary landscape but could be configured
for Mars.
MacMission
Control High-fidelity space shuttle simulation software
for the Apple 68k Macintosh and Power Pc machines.
MacMECO
Detailed simulation of shuttle main engine and solid
rocket booster performance gives realistic shuttle launch
and ascent simulations. Detailed cockpit display and
function provided.
MacSPOC (SPOC = Spacecraft Personal Orbit Computations)
Orbit computation engine and teacher that can also be
used for simulated space missions.
Documentation and demo software available for downloading.
Microsoft Simulators
Microsoft Space Simulator
This program is not longer available from MS. In
fact, it was apparently the last DOS game published
by MS. You might find it at a garage sale or used
software exchanges.
There are often discussions on the news groups
about it.See also the FAQ
at GameFaqs for help on the program.
MS Flight Simulator
95, 98, etc. d
Doesn't come with any spacecraft simulations but some
third party sources provide space related add-ons.
Models: the Simviation
misc page offers a free Discovery Shuttle
FS model. (The flight characteristics are not
realistic, i.e. it can do a fly around if the
landing is going wrong which the real shuttles
can't do.) There are also an X-15 multi-player
and a simulator of the Spacecraft Orion as seen
in 2001 Space Odyssey
Scenery
- do a search on Cape Canaveral or Cape Kennedy
for several sources of scenery for these locations.
FlightSim.Com!
- another FS site that might have some space /
rocket related resources.
OpenUniverse:
A Free Space Simulator
Raúl Alonso's program to simulate "the Solar System's
bodies in 3D on your Windows or Linux PC " and
"it does so in realtime."
Still available but Alonso has shifted his efforts
to working on Celestia (see
above.)
"ORBITER is a realistic space simulation using
proper physics for the modelling of planetary motion,
gravitational fields, free space and atmospheric flight
etc. As such, it is more challenging to master than
an arcade game - you should at least have some basic
idea about mechanics and planetary motion to get the
most from it."
Current features include:
"Realistic physics. Planetary motion, gravitation
effects, free space and atmospheric flight are accurately
modelled.
You can land your ship at a space port on a planet
surface, or dock to an orbital station.
High resolution planetary maps provide some nice
visual effects.
Configurable environment. Users can add planets,
space ships and space stations to the existing universe,
or design a completely new solar system from scratch."
Fly
me to the Moon - "A personal chronicle
on learning Astronomy and spaceflight mechanics
through the use of a (free) spaceflight simulator,
a couple of astronomy books and the ubiquitous
Internet."
Go
Play in Space by Bruce Irving
"'Orbiter Manual for the rest of us' - meaning
that it's an easy to read introduction to Orbiter,
primarily aimed at readers who come from a non
technical background be they adults or children."
Shuttle
at Underdogs - 1992 Iterplay - DOS sim - consider
a good simulation of the shuttle but with crude graphics.
This DOS simulator has been out of print for several
years. While the graphics are crude by today's standards,
the simulation of the shuttle technical details
is quite good. The manuals give a lot of interesting
information about the shuttle. The package will
give you insight into the complexity of the shuttle
system.
Simulations include landings, launch of satellites,
Hubble Telescope missions, etc.
Microsoft Space Simulator - includes a shuttle sim
- see entry
above
Space
Sail Simulators
Solar and laser driven space sails may provide a practical
method of transport around our solar system and even outside
of it. There are a number of simulators available and
under development:
Space
Station Simulators
These programs deal large space habitats. The stations
could be generic or specifically the International Space
Station. Some are games dealing with the construction
and operation of space stations.
Others employ sophisticated 3D modelling to allow the
user to move through the inside and/or outside of a
station. Some also allow one to see the orbit and orientation
of the station.
Space
Station Manager - Mistaril - From Mistaril
Games this program provides "strategy game
set in an immersive near future. Apply your creativity
and imagination to solve problems as a manager for
a newly founded space station orbiting earth. Face
logical challenges as you balance your resources and
your goals for the station.
Or just sit back and watch the earth flow slowly underneath.
The modules and technology are a mix of modern trends
and futuristic vision. Feel the heartbeat of the station
with vital statistics simulated in real time. Listen
for the small signs in power, thermal control or life
support to determine how healthy you creation is..."
ISS
Simulator - This simulator from Philip
Masding, who with Mike
Tyrrell have made many ISS & Mir images, displays
the orientation of the station as it orbits. This
can be very useful in understanding what is seen in
the typically blurry ground based images of the ISS.
(See the Satellite
Watching section on amateur imagery of
the ISS and other spacecraft.) Works within a browsers
using a VRML plug-in.
Skybase: Space Station Simulator - design, build
and explore a detailed simulation of the International
Space Station. Make variations from the official design.
The Piranha Interactive company is apparently no longer
in business but this program can still be found. See,
for example, Skybase
at the Software Outlet. They include an image
of the back
of the box.
Space
Station Simulator -
Focus Multimedia - Revised and updated version
of the Space Station Simulator first released in 1996.
The user interactively builds the ISS (or a custom
version), can explore outside and inside the station,
dock a shuttle or Russian Soyuz and Progress to the
station, carry out EVA's and more.
SoftLab-Nsk
is "one of main developers of visual simulation
software for Russian spacecraft and aircraft training
systems." They have expanded into general
software that includes simulations, games, graphics
and other products.
For example, they have a virtual model of the
interior
of the Mir module "Priroda". This VR system is
used by theYuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center
to familiarize cosmonauts that will be
working on Mir.
3D
Space Station Adventure - ages 4-12 - "activity
center" style program allows kids to equip and
interact with a space station and play other space
games.
Space
Academy GX-1 Edmark program
for young people (ages 8-12) is an interactive teaching
program about space and astronomy but includes some
flight simulations such as the Gravity
Pilot Trainer.
Space
Pinball
Download this space simulator developed by as an outreach
project:
"Space Pinball is an educational package /software
game (in development), that is [...]downloadable from
internet. It should offer users, aged between 12 and
21, knowledge on gravity and orbital mechanics. Each
level of difficulty includes a 3D game in which the
presented knowledge can be practised. You can actually
take control of a satellite in space!"
Version 1.0 now available. V2.0 in beta.
GrandTour:
Voyager and Giotto Space Mission Simulator
"simulate space as seen from the Voyager and Giotto
spacecraft. In addition, ... generate scenes from arbitrary
points in space or the Earth, with the spacecraft visible
to the observer. The planet, moons, and rings of interest
(or comet, nucleus, and tail), stars, the sun, and the
spacecraft are all accurately drawn with wireframe representations..."
"developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory by
John D. Callahan to assist in the analysis of science
and optical navigation data..program was filmed by the
BBC as part of a NOVA documentary on the Voyager Uranus
encounter,..."
Earth
Impacts
Earth
impact effects simulator - on line program gives
the damage on earth for a hit by asteroid or comet
of a chosen size, density, etc.
John Lewis's Asteroid Impact Modelling The 1999
book: Comet and Asteroid Impact Hazards on a Populated
Earth : Computer Modeling by John S. Lewis comes
with a program on a diskette that allows you to bombard
the earth with objects of various sizes and types
to estimate the resulting death and destruction. Read
the Space.com
review.
Frontier
Astro - "dedicated to astronomy and Frontier
Elite 2/Frontier First Encounters"
Flight
Simulators with Space Options
These programs are intended primarily to simulate airplanes
but some include suborbital vehicles (X-15 and SS1)
and/or have a shuttle landing sim:
PRE-Flight
- This simulator is apparently aimed towards RC hobbyists
who can configure their system to operate the simulator
with RC transmitters to test the flying of their models.
However, it wll also work with a joystick or keyboard.
Fly the Scaled Composites White Knight with
SpaceShipOne - Download
freeware PRE-Flight 2.00 from Simtel
and SS1
Model from PreflightSim.com.
After installing the simulator, open the SS1 zip
file into the Model subdirectory. Run the simulator
and click on the Model menu and then choose Load
and select the ss1.3dm file. The SS1 can be dropped
and its engine fired.
