Space shuttle

[Icetoocool]

Has anyone brought the space shuttle addon from captinsim, if so whats it like and is it worth it?

[MattNW]

I don't have the shuttle but from what I know about FSX, space flight simulation isn't one of it's strong points. FSX doesn't model RCS control so even with the high altitudes available you don't have any control. Too high and all you will do is spin out of control until you reach dense enough atmosphere for the control surfaces to work. By the time you reach that altitude the only thing left to do in a space shuttle is the final landing checklist. Realistic flight dynamics makes the shuttle fly like a concrete bunker.

If I want to fly the space shuttle I use Orbiter. In Orbiter you can fly a complete mission profile from launch with SRB and ET separation, orbital insertion (you can't reach orbit in FSX) rendezvous with ISS, release payloads, retrieve payloads, EVA, reenter with reentry flames and land. In other words you can fly a mission from start to finish. The shuttle doesn't have it in Orbiter but other space craft will also model damage from a bad reentry with a real crew that really dies if you screw up and breakup of the ship into up to 64 pieces (more pieces = lower FPS so choose what your computer can handle). Best of all it's free.

[alrot]

captinsim, isn't a payware?

[MattNW]

captinsim, isn't a payware?

I was talking about Orbiter not the Captainsim shuttle. For the most part the CS space shuttle is a shuttle landing simulator. Granted KSC looks much better on approach in FSX than the Orbiter version but only Orbiter simulates real space flight. What I wouldn't give for a sim with the graphics of FSX and the space flight of Orbiter.

[MOUSY]

Orbiter's great realistic fun. Getting into orbit for the first time is a wonderful experience. Quite easy with the Delta craft. A b!tch with the shuttle.... I can never seem to get my orbit eccentricity low enough and I always re-enter the atmosphere before I can raise my periapsis high enough.

Back on topic, the screenshots of the shuttle from captain sim look quite enticing. The plasma effects on re-entry alone looks good enough to buy it (not that I would).

[Ravang]

I don't have the shuttle but from what I know about FSX, space flight simulation isn't one of it's strong points. FSX doesn't model RCS control so even with the high altitudes available you don't have any control. Too high and all you will do is spin out of control until you reach dense enough atmosphere for the control surfaces to work. By the time you reach that altitude the only thing left to do in a space shuttle is the final landing checklist. Realistic flight dynamics makes the shuttle fly like a concrete bunker.

If I want to fly the space shuttle I use Orbiter. In Orbiter you can fly a complete mission profile from launch with SRB and ET separation, orbital insertion (you can't reach orbit in FSX) rendezvous with ISS, release payloads, retrieve payloads, EVA, reenter with reentry flames and land. In other words you can fly a mission from start to finish. The shuttle doesn't have it in Orbiter but other space craft will also model damage from a bad reentry with a real crew that really dies if you screw up and breakup of the ship into up to 64 pieces (more pieces = lower FPS so choose what your computer can handle). Best of all it's free.

I have the CS space Shuttle and it has a great VC and the controls work in space a little bit, it will not spin out of control, but the model is only for re-entry and orbiting around Earth not taking off but to use the VC at higher alt. you'll need to find a way to turn off the VC head movement (http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1188268000) all and all worth it

[Isak922]

Agreed, very worth it if you don't mind spending a bit of time reading.

Landing the Orbiter takes quite a while to get used to, out of 20 or so landings I only had 2 "Perfect" ones  ;D