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Microsoft Space Simulator
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Microsoft Space Simulator | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Developer(s) | Bruce Artwick Organization Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft Game Studios |
| Designer(s) | Charles Guy |
| Release date(s) | 1994 |
| Genre(s) | Simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Platform(s) | MS-DOS 5.0 |
| Media | 3.5" floppy disk |
| System requirements | 386/25 microprocessor or higher, 15 MB hard disk space, 2 MB system memory, high density disk drive, VGA card and monitor |
| Input | keyboard/mouse or joystick |
Microsoft Space Simulator was a space flight simulator program for MS-DOS/Microsoft Windows. It was one of the first general-purpose space flight simulators (and arguably the best until the arrival of Orbiter) and catered to armchair astronauts, space flight enthusiasts and sci-fi fans alike. Although as a space flight simulator it required from their users knowledge of some hard-to-grasp concepts of astrodynamics and celestial mechanics Space Simulator proved to be remarkably easy to handle even for inexperienced (but sufficiently determined) users.
Space Simulator could often be frustrating, complex and difficult due to its realism, but it could be rewarding for the skilled flightsimmer at the same time.
Contents |
- Wide number of spacecraft spacecraft range from a compact manned maneuvering unit (Shuttle's MMU) to an interplanetary passenger transport (Galactic Explorer) and a giant interstellar freighter (Zander Freighter),
- Wide number of destinations including space stations (both almost-historical e.g. Space Station Freedom and futuristic e.g. Ring Station 1), bases (e.g. Kennedy Space Center or futuristic Marineris Base on Mars) and celestial bodies (including comets) in both the solar system and outside (e.g. in the Polaris or Vega star system),
- Spacecraft instrument panel standardized, common to all spacecraft panel providing altitude and velocity information,
- Photograph and video recording
- Predefined missions which task users with accomplishing certain objectives (like Apollo 17 moon landing or docking a Shuttle to Space Station Freedom),
- Autopilot and Flight computer autopilot can be used to execute 15 maneuvers of different complexities (ranging from attitude/orientation control to automatic landing). Maneuvers can be also compiled into a complete flight plan that can be automatically executed,
- Observatory mode that can be used as a planetarium for viewing stars and other celestial bodies,
- Slew control mode
It should be noted that this was the only space flight simulator that allowed for an interstellar journey.
- Microsoft Space Simulator uses Newtonian laws of motion but takes account of relativistic effects by decreasing a spacecraft's acceleration as its speed approaches the speed of light. It does not take account of time dilation though.
- Atmospheric flight — atmosphere is not modeled
- Surface — all planetary surfaces are treated as flat spheres. No collision detection is implemented.
Microsoft Space Simulator was released by Microsoft Home in 1994. It was developed by BAO Ltd. (the company run by Bruce Artwick who was also behind development of Microsoft Flight Simulator) with Charles Guy as lead developer. It was one of the last simulation games released for MS DOS.
 Starting situation, with Ring Station 1 visible |
 Shuttle docked to Space Station Freedom |
- Orbiter — a freeware space flight simulator
- Celestia — free 3D astronomy program
- Stellarium — free planetarium program