Reentry - A Space Flight Simulator News

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

The 0.97 update adds the Dynamic Skybox and the new Mission Debrief System to Project Gemini. A big update to the Gemini Flight Manual is also included, and the rendering of the same recovery ship as seen in Mercury.
In addition, I have remodeled a lot of the interactable components in the Mercury capsule.

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 System for Project Gemini
The most important part of this update is the integration with the new Mission Debrief System for Gemini. As with Project Mercury, you will now get a mission summary with timeline, stats and graphs related to your Gemini mission execution.



Dynamic Skybox for Gemini
The new Dynamic Skybox has been added to Project Gemini. As with Mercury, the skybox requires quite a lot of calculations and will update at an interval of 10 seconds (or after completing a timescale). This adds the capability of night launches, and for early morning pre-launch procedures, you get to see the sun rise as you prepare for launch.



Updated Gemini Flight Manual
The Gemini Flight Manual has received an update. The screenshots has been changed, sections has been added/changed and all checklists has been updated to the latest version.



Mercury Cockpit Updates
I have doubled the resolution of the main textures used to render the Mercury Cockpit and updated fonts/font sizes and layout. A lot of the interactable switches has also been remodeled and made more realistic to improve the Mercury cabin experience.


Here is a summary of this update:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTS7MfLjp14

• Gemini: Mission Debrief System
  
• Gemini: Dynamic liftoff skybox and landing
  
• Gemini: Recovery ship
  
• Gemini Flight Manual Update (to be released on public update)
  
• Fixed: Gemini cockpit sunlight orientation relative to cockpit fix
  
• Fixed: Gemini cockpit sunlight shadow artifacts removed
  
• Mercury Cockpit updates
  
• Fixed: Mercury entry particle line in external view
  
• Fixed: Gemini entry particle line in external view
  
• Fixed: Gemini interior light bulbs illuminated when batteries depleted
  
• Fixed: Gemini entry effect during PPS burns
  
• Fixed: Engine noise from Agena PPS when fuel runs out
  
• Fixed: Agena RCS thruster jets stuck visible when OAMS is turned off
  
• Fixed: Lots of shadow artifacts in Mercury
  
• Fixed: Mercury illuminated switch sockets and EPI when it should be dark
  
• Fixed: CSM Mission Timer RESET and SET logic
  
• Fixed: FC monitoring gauges and minor CM FC logic updates
  
• Fixed: Minor CM FC purge logic changes
  
• Fixed: Gemini lights has stopped working
  
• Lots of typos and mission updates
  
• Language updates
  
• Dictionary updates
  
• Runnable checklist updates
  

Thanks to the contributors for helping make this game better and better, and to the test pilots and alpha floor players for feedback, testing and helping out.

I'm happy to share that the 0.96 update has been released! This update is focused on Project Mercury and contains a new Debrief System used to refine the "Mission Accomplished" window when ending a mission.
This first release of the Debrief System will be used to test how it works and integrates with Mercury, before being rolled out to Gemini and Apollo as well (planned for 0.97 and 0.98). It also applies a new update to the Mercury Flight Manual, the first step in updating all flight manuals and the reentry game manual before 1.0, and a dynamic skybox during pre-launch operations.

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


Mercury Debrief System
The main feature update is the improved Debrief System for Project Mercury. The goal of this system is to better communicate what goals you completed in a given mission and give you a timeline of your mission execution along with stats and graphs from various stages.

For example, the mission timeline will show you all of your main events:


And various stats and graphs can be used to analyze your mission execution and performance:


The is just the first step of this system and more stats/graphs will be added over time once I verify that the generic system works. If you have any good ideas for this, be sure to let me know!


Updated Mercury Manual
The flight manuals for Reentry is in need of updates. This is the first step of giving all of the flight manuals a big update before the 1.0 release. The screenshots has been changed, sections has changed and all checklists has been updated to the latest version.



Mercury Dynamic Skybox during pre-launch
A new dynamic skybox has been added to Project Mercury as an initial test. The skybox requires quite a lot of calculations and will update at an interval of 10 seconds (or after completing a timescale).

The sequence below shows the skybox as time to ignition counts down from T -2 hours for an early morning launch.



Updated LM/CM digits
Updated the general digits in the Command Module and the Lunar Module. This applies to the EMS and both Mission Timers in the Command Module, and the Mission Timer, Event Timer, Oxid/Fuel Quantity indicators and the Helium indicator in the Lunar Module
Command Module

Lunar module


Recovery ship in Mercury
I have added a recovery ship floating in the background when you splash down. I have reached out to various manufacturers on permission to models similar to the real recovery helicopters as well to start the journey on improving the recovery of the crew after a mission. If I do not get a response, I will use a generic helicopter model for this.


Mercury ASCS Updates
The Mercury ASCS (autopilot) has received some updates and fixes to better handle attitude maneuvering. The ASCS has previously been too perfect leaving almost no drift. This has been changed, and the logic has been modified to fix some issues present at lower framerates (faster fuel consumption, chasing impossible perfectionism, etc.).


Removed the deprecated Historical Missions tab
The "Historical" tab that was available on the main menu was replaced by the Campaign, and used to be the main red line that would guide you through the game. After the campaign was introduced, I left the tab there so the few incomplete missions would be accessible.

The Historical Missions mode will be redefined between 1.0 and 2.0, where a different mission system will be used to let you fly missions with launch date and goals similar to the real missions (campaign does this too). The Mission Creator will also let you create missions like this.

A summary of update 0.96 can be seen here:
https://youtu.be/AxQuZClklC8


List of changes:

• Added a better Mission Debrief/Summary for Mercury. This system will be applied to Gemini and Apollo in the next couple of updates.
  
• Mercury: Dynamic Skybox
  
• Recovery ship in Mercury
  
• Updated Mercury Manual
  
• ASCS fixes
  
• Light Bleed bug on some Mercury Cockpit internal models (glow in the dark)
  
• Major changes in the Mercury ASCS
  
• More Gemini mission changes for the new OBC Catchup Program procedure
  
• Modified orbital decay logic
  
• Removed the infinite fuel flag from Mercury RCS
  
• CSM: Change the Hg to He texture issue on CSM panel % F
  
• Deprecated the old "Historical Missions" section as the Campaign has been designed to guide you through similar missions. A new Historical Missions System will be implemented when the game is ready for it.
  

The 0.95 update will improve the logic surrounding Trans-Earth Injection (TEI) and how it behaves as you travel between Lunar and Earth SOI, and fixes many bugs related to this. It also adds the first PADs for the Lunar Module. These PADs will be provided when requesting PDI, Lunar Ascent and DPS burns. PAD sheets are also available in the CREW MEMBERS menu.

In addition, a lot of updates has been made to the Mercury program related to various visual models and general bug fixes all over the game.

Note: If you experience issues with this build, you can roll back to a previous version using the Steam Betas tab.

TEI
The logic surrounding TEI has been improved and should fix many of the reported issues. The two biggest issues are that it has been impossible to find a TEI-burn even if you are in a proper circular orbit around the Moon, and that the orbit is wrong once you enter Earth SOI (when timescale stops).


Initial PADs for the Lunar Module
With the changes to the DPS in the previous update, the LM has also received PADs (Preliminary Advisory Data). When requesting a DPS burn using the maneuver planner, P30 PAD is provided. Same applies for Powered Descent Initiation request and Lunar Ascent request.


Lunar Guidance Computer updates
I have corrected some major issues related to the LGC and save states, and corrected an exception that would make timers stop working correctly (mission timer in the CM and LM stops and countdowns does not work anymore).


Mercury Graphics Improvements
I have remade the Mercury LES tower, changed how it is rendered from the virtual cockpit and made some changes to the heatshield and landing bag.


Mercury Orbit Decay testing
A toggle (default off) has been added to Realism Settings to test an orbit decay function for the Mercury capsule only. This will circulate the orbit while passing through the upper parts of the atmosphere such as LEO. The closes point (Pe) of Earth will have the most drag.

VR
Some updates has been made to VR where a toggle (bindable in the Input Mapping (not for the VR controller)) to switch between 2d mode and VR mode to use features not yet implemented in VR. I have also fixed the ROGER button in the Lunar Module.

Thank you for reporting issues and helping me create a better game! :)

• TLI improvements and feature fixes
  
• Initial PAD tools for the Lunar Module
  
• PAD LM P30
  
• PAD LM PDI
  
• PAD LM Ascent
  
• Logic to test if it's possible to change between VR and 2D mode (to interact with advanced UI or VR-unsupported features)
  
• Added a Hotkey to toggle between VR and 2D mode
  
• Made the ROGER Button in the LM functional in VR
  
• Fixed some "waiting for Mission Objective to complete"-bugs
  
• Changes to Gemini ascent/insertion procedures related to OBC Catch-up routine
  
• Fixes to various campaign missions
  
• Fixed issues related to the Mission Timer in the CSM/LM
  
• LGC Memory State
  
• LGC corrupt memory fixes
  
• LGC DAP lookup fixes
  
• Updates Mercury EPS lesson
  
• Fixes to AC VOLTS gauge in Mercury
  
• Improved Mercury LES (tower) model
  
• Minor Mercury EPS lesson fixes
  
• Simpler to close the console (toggle from in-game menu or press ESC when it is open)
  
• LES rendering changes
  
• Mercury Heat Shield Post Landing material
  
• Mercury Attached heatshield on landing bag so it moves with it as it inflates
  
• TESTING: Orbit Decay (Mercury only) as an optional realism setting