Flight simmers and shuttle enthusiasts check it out... just got an awesome new simulator

[Cannikin]

I was checking out avsim.com yesterday and found a review of a space shuttle simulator called "Exciting Simulations' Space Shuttle Mission 2007". I've come to trust the product reviews on this site and rarely have I seen such a rave review on a product. It was something I've always been very interested in but MSFS is only just now becoming capable of simulating a re entry and still cant do a launch or orbit, I believe. So I bought it. Its downloadable from the site. I don't have words to describe it! I'm like a kid on Christmas morning right now. The detail is amazing.

I'm currently at around t-minus 25 minutes from launch. I've spent the last hour and a half going over radios, loading the avionics into the computers, installing the flight plan and I just paused it to post this after beginning to pressurize the propulsion system. I can barely stay in my seat.
I chose the recreation of STS 1, the first launch of Columbia. If I do it all in real time it will take over 2 days and 6 hours to complete!

I haven't even made it to launch and I'm giving it a thumbs up, and I'm hard to impress. If its something you're interested in, definitely check it out.

This paragraph from the review sums it up for me completely. And there is a demo video on the homepage of the simulation. I'll let you know if I make it into orbit, because if you do anything wrong it scrubs the launch! I'm afraid to touch anything.



"SSM07 just blew me away with it’s attention to detail in every and all aspects of the Space Shuttle. It’s visual and audio recreation of the orbiter is top-notch, and the simulation of the STS operations from launch to landing, from my personal experience, has no equal. The ever present factor of gravity was the only thing keeping me grounded to reality; the immersion that SSM07 provides into this specific realm felt that convincing."

Full review: http://www.avsim.com/pages/0408/SSM/Shuttle.htm

Screen shots and video: http://www.space-shuttle-mission.com/

[Parche]

1. Hey

That looks awesome and incredible

I have been looking for something like that for a long time
also a Saturn one to the moon

I need a new computer first though.....


Is that freeware? or is there a place where you can purchase it?

:woohoo: :woohoo:
:hi:

[Cannikin]

12. Its $50 and can be purchased from the second link in my original post

[Cannikin]

2. I'm having a blast

After about 30 minutes I had finished with all of my OMS burns and have had very little to do since then. I think I'm going to use the time skip feature to get a little closer to re entry. I still give it a thumbs up.

It is very complex, but if you choose the lower levels of difficulty it places arrows on the correct switches, but even then, findind the panel they are talking about takes time. Its great.

[DS1]

3. nifty. I'll bet the return sequence is most exhilirating

flipping the shuttle back right side up and starting the descent until landing

[MonkeyFunk]

4. Sounds complicated

is there anything simpler for folks like me? Like an elevator simulator?

[Jamastiene]

8. Maybe if we can find a hang gliding simulator, you

and I can go hang gliding together. That'd be more our style. :D

[Hawkeye-X]

5. I have Flight Sim X

I'm still looking for the Concorde info - I wanna fly one.. and maybe a F-15 Tomcat.

[tjwmason]

6. That seems to be getting very involved.

Pretty incredible stuff they can do these days. :hi:

[Jamastiene]

7. That sounds like an opportunity for updates to this thread and

perhaps a Virtual Lounge get together for us to do the 10, 9, 8... deal when you get ready to launch. I'm excited for you. If you ever see any hang gliding over the Grand Canyon (or any nature/scenery spots) type simulators, please let me know. I'm too cheap and chicken to hang glide in real life and want to listen to music while I do it anyhow, so a simulator would be perfect for me.

I can't wait until you launch. We could all gather here in the DU Lounge and send you off and communicate with you. It'd be fun. There sure ain't anything worth watching on television any more. This would be way more entertaining.

:popcorn:

[taterguy]

9. I know it's make believe but how the hell would you get a hang glider out of the Grand Canyon?

One of the things that I liked the most about that spot is how inaccessible it is below the rim.

No roads or motor vehicles, just hikers and mules.

Some Flight Sims recreate the Wright Brothers flight. I haven't played with them enough to know if it's possible to fly their plane a few miles south to Jockey's Ridge, which is one of the most popular hang gliding spots on the East Coast.

[Jamastiene]

10. Make it a break apart hang glider that would

easily be carried out by the mule. :P

It's make believe. I'd just love to see it AND be able to listen to certain songs I like at the same time. It would be fantastic.

[Cannikin]

11. Ok, Im at the +22 hr mark of this 2 day 6 hour STS-1 mission

After doing several changes in the orbit its giving me the option to coninue to manually control the shuttle to get a feel for it, or to skip ahead to the de orbit procedures. I think I'm ready to give re entry a shot and hopefully return Columbia safely to Edwards!

[Parche]

13. awesome pics

almost life like.........

how is the food up there?? :rofl: :rofl:

:hi:

[geardaddy]

14. Are you eating Spacefood Sticks?

[Cannikin]

15. Final mission report...I'm giving it a 4 out of 5 stars.

I had a great time playing this. It was very stressful at times. There is a lot to do for one person! But it as every bit as complex as I would want it to be. The procedures were detailed and accurate, the graphics were great, although they took the global textures for Earth used on Google Earth and it shows.

Re entry was neat. Landing was intense, and took three tries. The first time I landed too hard. The second time I over ran the end of the designated runway, though I was on a dry lake bed. Third time was the charm. Take advantage of the quicksave feature! I didnt even get any screen caps. Too much going on at the time!

I think it was money well spent if its your thing. Definately better than the microsoft/captain sim shuttle experience.

Here's my virtual photo album.

On the pad


View of the cape


SRB sep


ET sep


OMS 1


In orbit


KU antenna and payload bay door radiators deployed


Under 300,000 ft



Roll reversals over Baja




Around 45,000ft... *BOOM BOOM* I bet my neighbors were pissed.


Getting ready for that final "Southwest airlines into Burbank" approach


The final shot