| Orbiter Space Flight Simulator | |
|---|---|
 | |
Screenshot  | |
| Developer | Martin Schweiger |
| Initial release | 27 November 2000; 25 years ago (2000-11-27) |
| Written in | C++[1] |
| Operating system | Windows Vista and later |
| Size | 2.7 GB |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Simulation |
| License | MIT license |
| Website | www |
| Repository | github |
Orbiter is aspace flight simulator video game developed to simulatespaceflight using realisticNewtonian physics. The game was released on 27 November 2000;[2] and the latest edition, labeled "Orbiter 2024", was released on 31 December 2024.[3] The developer, Martin Schweiger, announced to the community thatOrbiter is being published under the open sourceMIT License.[4]
Orbiter was developed by Martin Schweiger, a senior research fellow in the computer science department atUniversity College London,[5] who felt that space flight simulators at the time were lacking in realisticphysics-based flight models, and decided to write a simulator that made learning physics concepts enjoyable.[6] It has been used as a teaching aid in classrooms,[6] and a community of add-on developers have created a multitude of add-ons to allow users to fly assorted real and fictional spacecraft and add new planets orplanetary systems.[7][8]
Orbiter is a realistic physics simulator which allows users to explore theSolar System in a number ofspacecraft, both realistic, such as theSpace Shuttle Atlantis; and fictional, such as the "Delta-Glider."[7] Schweiger has included fictional spacecraft to allow for easier flights for less experienced users.[6] The simulator is realistic enough to re-enact historical space flights, and the ability to fly fictional ships also allows the player to reach areas of theSolar System that cannot be reached by human spaceflight at the present time.
A spacecraft's engines are defined only by the amount of thrust they put out and amount of fuel they use, allowing anything fromsolar sails to conventionalrocket engines to futuristicnuclear fission andfusion drives to be simulated. Everything between ground movement and interplanetary travel is supported, including orbital and sub-orbital flight, although only vessel-ground collisions are supported.[6] Docking and attachment systems allow the user to simulate docking with aspace station or other spacecraft, and rendezvous with and retrieval ofsatellites.[9] Users can also buildspace stations in orbit.[9]
The Solar System as presented inOrbiter consists of theSun, the eightplanets and their majormoons.[10] Manydwarf planets,asteroids (exceptVesta), andcomets not included in the simulator are available as add-ons.[11][12] AlthoughOrbiter contains a database of over 100,000 stars, these are for display purposes only andinterstellar travel is currently not possible in the simulator.[1] The simulator also includes a planetarium mode that allowsecliptic andcelestial grids to be overlaid onto the star map, along with labels of theconstellations and other celestial markers.[9] The planetarium mode can also display labels indicating the location and identity of objects in the Solar System, such as planets, moons, or vessels, that appear within a certain proximity based on their type. This mode can also display labels 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.[9]
The traditional simulated control interface inOrbiter consists of twomulti-function displays and ahead-up display.[8] Each features several modes of operation, with all commands given via thekeyboard or mouse. The simulator also supports customized control panels and instruments, including 3-D virtual cockpits and 2-D instrument panels.[11] 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 virtualcockpit also allows the player to freely look around from the perspective of the pilot. SinceOrbiter 2006 Patch 1, it has supportedTrackIR, which allows the simulator to track the head-movements of the player and adjust the view accordingly.[13]
Orbiter was developed as asimulator,[14] with accurately modeled planetary motion,gravitation effects (including non-spherical gravity), free space, atmospheric flight andorbital decay.[15][16] The position of the planets in the solar system is calculated by theVSOP87 solution, while the Earth-Moon system is simulated by theELP2000 model.[17] Only n-bodyNewtonian mechanics are simulated, not takingrelativistic effects into account. This means that phenomena such astime dilation due torelativistic effects are not simulated.[6]
The default version ofOrbiter before the 2024 edition had no sound,[1] however popular add-ons called OrbiterSound[18] and XRSound[19] are available. Both of them provide engine noises, ambient sounds in the cabin, radio chatter and other sounds including playlists. Both of them contain options to maintain a realistic silence when the craft is viewed externally during spaceflight. There is no collision detection for objects in space, apart from defined docking ports. SinceOrbiter 2024, XRSound is now included in the base package, but must be enabled in the launchpad options to function.[20]
SinceOrbiter 2016, terrain elevation is modeled for Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Support was also added for higher definition surface textures and clouds.[21]
Orbiter's standard distribution includes real and fictional spacecraft and space stations:
An extensiveAPI enablesOrbiter users to contribute by creating add-ons. Many spacecraft are available for download as add-ons, ranging from theSovietVostok spacecraft[23] toApollo program.[24] Another popular category of add-ons are modifications of the standard spacecraft ofOrbiter, ranging from simple visual changes to complex simulations of the internal subsystems of these fictional crafts. Examples of these more advanced default spacecraft include the XR Series of vessels.[19]
Add-ons are also available for new surface bases,[25]MFD modes,[26] extensions of the simulation menu, space stations,[27] planets,[12] and even other planetary systems.[28] SinceOrbiter 2006, a scenario editor is included, which can also be extended for supporting the special attributes of add-on vessels.[29] A third party modlist installer by orbiter-mods.com called Orb can be used to automatically install mod bundles.[30]
