Orbiter (sim)
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Shuttle_lift-off_in_Orbiter.jpg
Orbiter is a closed source freeware space flight simulator created by Dr Martin Schweiger, a professor at the University College London, 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 050216 unveiled on February 16 2005.
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About the Simulator
Orbiter is a first-person perspective space flight simulator. 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 the 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 transplanetary travel are all supported. Docking and attatchment systems allow the player to perform a docking with a space station or other spacecraft and also rendezvous with and retrieve a satellite.
Orbiter's solar system consists of the sun and eight planets. Pluto, asteroids, and comets are not included but can be added via 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.
Along with this is a planetarium mode with 3 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 identitiy 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 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 MFDs and a HUD. Each features several modes of operation. In this mode all commands are given via the keyboard. It gives you an unobstructed view and all relevent information is readily at hand. The simulator also supports customized control panels and instruments, including 3D 3 dimensional 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.
Included Spacecraft
X29overEdwards_in_Orbiter.jpg
Orbiter's standard distribution includes following spacecraft and space stations:
- Delta-glider and Delta-glider-S
- Shuttle-A
- Shuttle-PB
- Dragonfly
- Space Shuttle Atlantis
- Space Station Mir
- International Space Station
- Lunar Wheel station
- Hubble Space Telescope
- LDEF Satellite
Orbiter Add-ons
Orbiter has attracted a sizable number of people centered around several fora and repositiories. 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 Star Trek's Enterprise. Add-ons are also available for new bases, MFDs, space stations, planets, and even other solar systems.
With this unique simulator, space enthusiasts are able to re-create with historical accuracy everything from Project Mercury to Apollo 11, The Space Shuttle, and beyond.
External links
- Orbiter official website (http://www.orbitersim.com/)
- Orbiter official forum (http://orbit.m6.net/v2/boardtalk.asp)
- Open Source CCCP Addons (http://sourceforge.net/projects/projectganymede)
- Orbit Hanger Mods- an Orbiter addon repository (http://www.orbithangar.com/)
- SpaceSimMods- Add-on repository for large add-ons (http://www.spacesimmods.com/)
- Orbiter Sound Addon (http://orbiter.dansteph.com/)
- Avsim - large Orbiter addon libraries (http://www.avsim.com/)
- Orbiter IRC Chatroom (http://www.orbithangar.com/orbiterirc.cfm)
- Moonport Orbiter site (http://www.moonport.org)
- Meadville Space Center (http://www.ibiblio.org/mscorbit)
- Astronomy Portal to the Heavens, Deep Sky and Universe (http://www.eharm.net/shop/freeware/orbiter/orbiter.html)
- Orbiter Community Links ;-) (http://simcosmos.planetaclix.pt/01_orbiter/SC_atlaslinks/00_orblinks/orblinks.htm)
- Project Apollo for Orbiter (http://sourceforge.net/projects/nassp/)
- Russian page and forum about Orbiter (http://orbiter.net.ru/)de:Orbiter (Simulator)