Reentry - A Space Flight Simulator News

The 0.99 update contains a lot of fixes related to the Moon dataset and improves the maps used in the Apollo Mission Pad. In addition, a lot of bugs has been addressed.
This is the first of multiple 0.99 patches with the primary goal of fixing bugs and improving game mechanisms. I will soon publish a new post with the update roadmap for Reentry 1.0 to 2.0.

Note: If you are experiencing issues with this update, you can always revert to an earlier build using the Steam Betas Tab.

Improved Moon Data
The update will double the lunar texture data set resolution used during lunar orbital maneuvering. The height data set is improved from 8k to 23k and the lunar color map is improved from 8k to 16k.

In the image below, the top image is the old system (including normal shadows), while the bottom image is the new system (but without normal shadows, making it look flatter - however, you can still see the improved level of detail).



Update of the Moon Planet Shader
The shader that has been used to render the moon during orbital maneuvering has been updated. The update will render normals and diffuse shadows better, and has support for detail mapping. The two images below compares the shaders. Top image is the old shader with the old dataset, while the bottom image is the new shader with the new dataset.


Another comparisson:


Mission Pad: Lunar Map
The lunar map is an important tool used during Lunar Navigation and orbits. With permission from the Aeronautical Chart Information Center, United States Air Force and Lunar and Planetary Institute, the entire texture set used to render the map in the Mission Pad has changed. In addition, I have added the ability to zoom and pan the maps in the Mission Pad.


You can now use the map to identify what craters you are seeing through the windows of the CSM/LM and better be able to learn the surface of the Moon.



Mission Pad: Earth Map
I have added a similar feature set to the map of Earth. The Earth Map now supports zooming and panning, and an improved texture.


Reference trajectories are visible on the map to compare your trajectory, and radio stations has been added to Apollo (like in Mercury and Gemini).


Lunar Module Flight Manual updates
The Lunar Module flight manual has also received its first update in a long time. Sections has been rewritten and new content has been added.


A summary of the update can be seen in this video:
https://youtu.be/aUJYIOQtJ5c

List of updates

• Apollo: Doubled the Moon Textures and Heightmap
  
• Apollo: Rewrote the Moon shader and tessellation to better support PBR and normal mapping
  
• Apollo: Improved the Lunar Map
  
• Apollo: Improved the Earth Map
  
• Apollo: Major updates to the Lunar Module manual
  
• Apollo: Lunar Descent Guidance updates
  
• Apollo: Lunar Ascent Guidance updates
  
• Apollo: Lunar Ascent Engine fixes and visual changes
  
• Apollo: Orbit View Updates
  
• Apollo: CM/CSM switch checks in the Caution & Warning System
  
• VR (all programs): Debrief Menus input support (like the in-game menu)
  
• Typos in Missions and Dictionaries
  
• Apollo: Corrected the issue preventing ascent stage to enter the TSS. It would flicker/dance/teleport around the CSM after final undock and prevent large timescales.
  
• Apollo: Initial Save State support for Lunar Ascent staged state (saving after CSM/LM docking post-ascent)
  
• Delete/Reset Storage button should now work (TM)
  
• Fixed the Player Character from being invisible with only headsets visible
  

Thanks to you all who have contributed and provided feedback to improve this game!

I have further analyzed and worked on the previous hot fix related to TLI and LOI. I have now made the solution more sophisticated and reliable. Still some issues that I need to dive into but the entire process should now work better.

In addition, this patch will fix the following:

- If the QualitySettings.ini file is incorrect, it will re-generate the file. This will correct the issue where the Quality Settings will render blank when trying to access it due to a corrupt settings file.

- The Clear Player Data/Storage button on the main menu has been fixed. Pressing this will remove all data stored by the client and should reset the game if needed.


Thank you all for reporting!

This is a minor patch and a hot fix for an issue regarding lunar orbit causing the orbit of both the LM and CM to change during any SPS or DPS burn, eventually causing the crafts to crash with the Moon.

Patch noted:
- Retro at Orbital Cursor should work when OBC isn't running
- SPS/DPS burn fixes during lunar orbit
- TLI logic updates related to issue above

The 0.98 update adds the new Mission Debrief system to Apollo, as well as the new Dynamic Skybox System during Apollo Saturn V launches.

Note: If this updates gives you issues, you can revert back to a previous version by using the Steam betas tab for the game.

Mission Debrief for Apollo
The majority of the development time for this update is the integration of the new Mission Debrief System for Project Apollo. You will now get a mission summary with timeline, stats and graphs related to your Apollo mission execution.

With this update, all of the modules in Reentry has this system and I can start to tune and improve the specific integrations going forward, such as adding more datapoints and graphs.



Dynamic Skybox System for Apollo
The new dynamic skybox system has been added to Project Apollo and can be seen during pad-operations. It takes time into account and will let you set up the cockpit during the night or early mornings, or even perform a night launch.


Apollo CSM Flight Manual Updates
Big changes to the Apollo Command/Service Module Flight Manual. New sections has been added, some has been rewritten and the supported AGC programs has been added. More updates will be added going forward.


Recovery Ship to Apollo
As with Mercury and Gemini, a recovery ship has been added to the landing in Apollo.


Major updates to the timer system in the Apollo CSM and LM
The Mission Timers in the CSM and LM has been decoupled from the Ground Mission Time. Previously a dev-flag made all the mission timers in an Apollo Mission automatically sync. This functionality still exists and can be triggered by a bubble-button in the cockpit (SYNC MISSION TIMERS). The Mission Timers should reset and start counting on tower release, but can be modified and changed over the mission.


Fixed initial camera zoom levels in Apollo
Corrected some of the zoom levels used during F3 Orbit View to avoid the camera starting inside planets.


Rendering of Local Time during pad-operations
I have seen some confusion and bug reports related to the time of ignition. This has been because I render the time in UTC/GMT and not the local time at the pad (EST). I have now changed the rendering of time before ignition and during ascent to be displayed in EST instead.



Patch Notes:

• Apollo: Mission Debrief
  
• Apollo: Recovery ship
  
• Apollo: Dynamic liftoff skybox and landing
  
• Apollo: Camera zoom initial values and external camera zooms
  
• Command Module Flight Manual Update
  
• Apollo: Reworked the Mission Timers in the CM.
  
• Apollo: Reworked the Mission Timers in the LM.
  
• Apollo: Added a button that lets a player sync the Mission Timers
  
• Dynamic Skybox improvements (all programs)
  
• Changed so that time on the UI renders local time during pad and ascent, and automatically switches to UTC/GMT when in orbit.
  
• SIVB/CSM: Fixed issues related to TLI and Lunar SOI
  
• Gemini: Additional fixes to the Cabin Lights+
  
• Gemini: Fixes to the internal lighting
  
• Updates to Campaign Missions
  
• Apollo: Updates to SLV materials
  
• Typos in dictionaries and mission scripts
  
• Apollo: Updates to SLV materials
  
• Gemini: Cabin issues when loading into a in-orbit flight
  

This is a minor patch correcting the following issues:
- Gemini Sequencer Lights Test
- Gemini 14 g-load on pad
- Gemini Campaign updates