Here is a bit more of a context on my previous post. This is the default area in question. The black bodies around the Pad39A are supposed to be water - they are just dark flat areas - they look like dried tar pits. We superimposed the aerial imagery to aid alignment and add some detail to show through the grass overlay. But we may have to expand this aerial coverage, because the default is so coarse, their coastlines are just straight lines.
Saturn 5 will be really cool to see
I am soooo pumped for this project. I truly hope Asobo implement your physics model to 2024 for Low Earth Orbit (up to 2,000 km) atmospheric conditions so it can support proper LEO missions (Space shuttle - ISS dockings, satellite deployment, experimental high altitude planes X-15 etc).
Talking about X-15, are we gonna be able to use a third party airplane like the X-15 or the NF-104 for experimental high altitude research flights with realistic atmospheric (or microgravity) conditions at those altitudes?
Note: a nice Easter egg will be to have an OMEGA Speedmaster strapped on the wrist of some of the astronauts featured. Especially Apollo.
In FS24 weāll be able to get out of the plane and take photos of the world around us.
How cool would it be if we could step out of a capsule and take photos of the world below?
Ok, since you asked, Iām going to nerd out for a bit here .
We have implemented the physics model that simulates forces on a blunt body (space capsule) during the ascent, while in orbit, and descent - basically, a flight model of a falling rock. As the rocket ascends, it experiences comparatively simple forces which are easy to calculate and simulate. There is practically no aerodynamic lift, and the drag is experienced on its cylindrical body and of course, the ogive nose cone, but that drag is rather small compared to the lift, and it is practically negligible (we DO calculate it, however, for thoroughness). While in orbit, the primary forces are thrust (for orbital maneuvering) and gravity (which is actually microgravity, a result of gravity and centrifugal force that cancel each other out, and also negligible). During the re-entry, the primary forces are gravity and drag. We also calculate and take into account lift forces, but the blunt bodies (capsules) have very simple geometry (a cone or a ābellā shape) and coefficients of drag and lift are very well researched and known for these simple (āprimitiveā) geometric bodies. We would not even dare to attempt to create a supersonic or hypersonic flight model for an experimental aircraft with complex geometry - that is a University Thesis, or someoneās lifeās work. So, for high altitude research aircraft, if Asobo is not handling that, we certainly wonāt either.
However - there IS a way to deal with certain spaceflight modes, in particular, winged spacecraft such as Space Shuttle or X-37B. SimConnect allows for real time switching between FSās flight model and custom flight model. So, in case of a Space Shuttle re-entry, we would be able to let it behave like a blunt body in a very thin atmosphere, falling like a rock at 20,000 km/h, going through re-entry heat plasma, and getting slowed down by drag. When at a certain altitude the atmosphere gets thicker and the aerodynamic forces start to play a major part, FSās default glider flight model (fine tuned for Shuttle Orbiter) kicks in, and the user can glide it down for a landing.
We already have EVA in P3D, and I see no reason why we canāt have that in MSFS2020 and MSFS2024. Here is a YT video of the SpacePort EVA, check it out!
Wow! Having that might just push me to get VR.
Barf bag optional.
That would be really cool. Assuming Xbox compatibility too
To be fair, it would still be cool and desirable for us PC users even if XBOX compatibility turns out to be a major problem for this particular feature.
If this works on PC, I honestly donāt see a reason why this wouldnāt work on XBox. This is all ālegitā SimConnect code and fairly simple SimObjects, no trickery or special workarounds.
This is great! What awesome news! Sounds like Asobo āheardā my plea to raise the altitude limit!
@TBDevTeam will you scenery have KTTS included? I see a payware option is now available from another dev but I donāt want to get it if yours will also have it upon release.
Side note- how is progress and release timing look now halfway into October?
Thanks.
Hi - yes we saw that. They did excellent work, but we did notice some inaccuracies. Yes, of course, we ARE including KTTS - we showed off work in progress screenshots a while ago, including Orbiter MDD (mate/de-mate device), the screenshots are still in this thread.
Progress is going well. We are now busy fixing water and vegetation around Pad39 A and B (as mentioned before, that areaās default coverage is a mess for some reason), and adding additional amount of detail to the pads.
Thanks for the confirmation
Here are a couple of screenshots showing WIP on the pads. Weāve updated a lot of pad support structures and piping.
Looking great. Canāt wait to explore it
Hi- is October release going to be pushed back, seeing only a week or so left? @TBDevTeam
Hi - yes. I am sorry, I know you are anticipating this release, but it will be a few weeks more to bring it up to the completion level we want. We are working around the clock to get it done ASAP. Thanks for your patience!
Alright Looking forward to it