Reentry - A Space Flight Simulator News

[p][/p][p]This is a major technical update and is all about upgrading the engine version used to render and execute Reentry. It upgrades the engine from Unity 2022.3 to Unity 6.1 (latest Unity version). This means that Reentry now runs on the latest and most modern version of Unity.[/p][p][/p][p]The benefits is mainly related to getting access to the latest work the Unity team has been doing with the rendering technologies (Standard Rendering Pipeline) between Unity 2022 and Unity 6, and the upgrades to the development tools. Unity 6 also comes with new features that will allow me to improve the experience, continue to iterate on rendering performance going forward, and start doing research on transitioning from DirectX 11 to DirectX 12 in the future.[/p][p][/p][p]This is a significant update and I have spent most of the available development time over the summer to perform this much needed engine upgrade. This has been a very complex task and I hope I have been able to correctly migrate the logic and the assets. However, Reentry is a huge project so please report any issues related to logic that used to work before this engine upgrade (Engine Update issues).[/p][p][/p][p]I have made "Reentry Version 0.99.79" available as a rollback option if this new upgrade causes issues for you (you can change this using the Steam Betas tab on the games properties in Steam). I will prioritize working on engine update related issues as they are reported, but please be patient as I work to stabilize this work over the next few patches. The bits has been in testing with the Test Pilots, and on the Alpha Floor branch (Steam Betas tab) so far, before rolling it out as part of this update to all of you.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]You can read more about Unity 6 here:
https://unity.com/releases/unity-6 https://unity.com/blog/unity-6-features-announcement[/p][p][/p][p]You can read more about Unity 6.1 here:
https://unity.com/blog/unity-6-1-is-now-available[/p][p][/p][p]Note: The Unity artwork used in this post is from the Unity 6.1 splash screen, made by Keijiro Takahashi.[/p][p][/p][p]FPS display[/p][p]In addition to this I have also modernized the FPS renderer. It now has multiple FPS modes that you can use while testing performance and the various graphics options to tune rendering related to your hardware. You can use CTRL+F to toggle between the various modes. You can toggle it on and off using the "Show FPS" toggle under graphics settings.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Patch Notes:[/p]

• [p]Major engine update: Unity 2022.3 to Unity 6.1 (latest version).[/p]
• [p]New FPS renderer: I have changed the FPS renderer to a more sophisticated one. You can use CTRL+F to toggle the modes of it. It will follow the "Show FPS" toggle under graphics settings.[/p]
• [p]Fixes to the sun positioning logic when loading from a State[/p]

[p][/p][p]This update continues to iterate on the Gemini cockpit lighting control, introduces a new Bookmark System for the Mission Pad checklists and fixes some issues related to Mercury attitude logic.[/p][p][/p][p]Note: If you experience new issues related to this update, please report them. You can revert back the a previous build using the Steam betas tab for the game.[/p][p][/p][p]Checklist Bookmark System[/p][p]The checklist bookmark system allows you to mark a checklist as a favorite. This will place a bookmark tape that can be used as a shortcut to open the checklist. When you mark the checklist as a favorite, the bookmark will be stacked on the side of the checklist. If you press the favorite button again, the bookmark will be removed.[/p][p][/p][p]The bookmark data is individual for Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. Each will store their bookmarks into a json file. You can optionally edit the name of the bookmark and the tape-color (background color) by modifying this file. The file is saved in the games AppData folder under the ChecklistBookmarks folder.[/p][p][/p][p]With the current setup you can have up to 11 bookmarks for each program. [/p][p][/p][p]Mercury Attitude logic fixes[/p][p]This patch continues to fix some issues related to the Mercury Attitude logic. It will correct an issue with the Retro Attitude light due to the ASCS retro attitude changes in the previous patch, and fix the PROGRAMMER with the new attitude targets. This will correct the issue where, after the last patch, you would need to switch this to BYPASS to let the PROGRAMMER advance to retro fire.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Mercurys LAUNCH CONTROL switch[/p][p]I fixed a very old bug that would ignite the engines of the Mercury Launch Vehicles but keep it bolted to the PAD if you didn't set the LAUNCH CONTROL switch to READY before the countdown is complete. Now ignition should happen when the countdown completes and the launch control switch is set to ready.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Gemini Cabin Lighting[/p][p]I continues to iterate on the interior lighting of the Gemini Capsule. I changed the hue/warmth of both the panel lights for the Commander and the Pilot, and the attitude indicator ball (FDI). You can dim the cabin lights, control if the panel lights are red or amber, and toggle the attitude indicator lights.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Patch notes:[/p][p]- Checklist Bookmark System[/p][p]- Mercury: Retro Att light and programmer stage logic fix. Retro Att light should now illuminate again.[/p][p]- Mercury: Fix to prevent engine ignition when rocket is not set to ready[/p][p]- Gemini CDR/PLT panel light re-coloring to match the same hue/warmth as the cabin light[/p][p]- Gemin FDI (attitude indicator ball) light fixes[/p][p]- Realtime Voice/Speech Synth stability fixes[/p]

[p][/p][p]This update mainly cover reported issues such as Mercury attitude control, Apollo entry REFSMMAT and PAD data, and an attempt to make a fix for a "crash to desktop" if for some reason the game storage file is corrupt while booting the game.[/p][p][/p][p]Note: If you experience new issues related to this update, please report them. You can revert back the a previous build (0.99.77) using the Steam betas tab for the game.[/p][p][/p][p]Games system storage file size check[/p][p]One issue I have seen at times is related to a CTD (crash to desktop) issue related to the game storage file. If the game has been working for you and you suddenly start to experience an immediate CTD after launching the game, it could be related to this. I now do some additional checks when the game boots and loads the settings to avoid the CTD.[/p][p][/p][p]Apollo Entry attitude[/p][p]During a Command Module atmospheric entry there was a difference between the attitude you would received in the Entry PAD compared to what the external forces would guide you to once you hit the aerodynamics of the atmosphere. I have made some changes to the PAD data logic and the entry attitude REFSMMAT logic to correct this. Keep in mind that you need to do a P52 Option 2 with the time of EI as the parameters to get the correct entry REFSMMAT. With this change I will soon add a new button to the crew members toolset that will allow you to directly request the entry REFSMMAT, and align to it using P52 opt. 1.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Mercury AUTO attitude control fixes[/p][p]There has been a difference in what RETRO and RE-ENT attitudes you would achieve in the Mercury capsule. The ASCS controls the attitude, and you can use the attitude switch to select if you want to maintain the retro fire attitude or the reentry attitude. The attitude should now be the same for Atlas and Redstone.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Setting the switch to RE-ENT should now place you at the target reentry attitude (pretty much aligned with the horizon), and retro should be -34 degrees for both Redstone and Atlas missions.[/p][p][/p][p]Note: Recall that you are in complete control of the ship and can use the RE-ENT mode during orbital operations if you wish to be more level with the horizon. I generally recommend players to switch into manual modes during orbit to save fuel (ASCS uses a lot to maintain attitude).[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Gemini cabin lights[/p][p]Unlike the Mercury Capsule, the Gemini cabin lights has been bright white. I have change the lighting logic, and tweaked the lighting to a warmer setting. I have also made some minor re-modelling to the light bulbs and assembly. I have also increased the max light strength of the cabin lights to give better cabin illumination control for both practical reasons and mood setting. I have used reference images to set the warmth/color.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Apollo Entry cue card[/p][p]I updated the entry cue card graphics and removed the existing scribbles on it.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Mercury Lights test[/p][p]I have continued to iterated on the Mercury Lights test logic and better connected this to the electrical power system after the recent Mercury EPS work you have seen over the recent patches.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Patch notes:[/p]

• [p]Games system storage file size check[/p]
• [p]Apollo entry attitude tuning[/p]
• [p]Mercury: Fixes and tweaks to the Retro and Reentry attitude modes of the ASCS. RE-ENT should now place you at the target reentry attitude (pretty much aligned with the horizon), and retro should be -34 degrees for both Redstone and Atlas missions[/p]
• [p]Mercury Lights Test power wiring[/p]
• [p]Mercury: Minor fixes to some comm-request checks[/p]
• [p]Mercury: General ASCS attitude logic fixes[/p]
• [p]Gemini: Warmer Cabin light color/Kelvin and light tweaking[/p]
• [p]Pad hotkey fix (TLI and Entry pad swapped)[/p]
• [p]Entry cue card sheet graphic updates and removal of existing scribble[/p][p][/p]

This minor patch contains some heavy work related to the TLI (trans-lunar injection) and SOI (sphere of influence) calculation logic. As mentioned in the previous patch notes (0.99.75), I have had some recent reports where the TLI burn that takes the Apollo craft from Earth to the Moon fails to correctly transition from the Earth sphere of influence (SOI) to Lunar sphere of influence.

This patch rolls out a potential fix that has been checked and verified by players on the alpha floor branch. There is an ongoing bug-thread related to this issue on Discord, feel free to join the discussion if you are still having this issue.


Note: If you experience new issues related to this update, please report them. You can revert back the a previous build (0.99.75) using the Steam betas tab for the game.

This patch will mostly contain fixes to reported issues. It will also roll out a new feature related to controlling the relative orientation and position of the VR hand controller models. It also applies various language/text improvements.

Thanks to all the contributors helping with typos and language improvements!

Note: If you experience new issues related to this update, please report them. You can revert back the a previous build (0.99.68) using the Steam betas tab for the game.


Blocking issue: Gemini/Agena undocking fix
This patch will correct the issue where Agena would in some cases disappear/teleport away when you undock from it. The issue was introduced when I tried to rewrite some logic related to the Agena collision testing and improve docking logic.

Let me know if this fix corrects the behavior for you.


Critical issue: Mercury Electrical Power System (EPS)
A fix for an unrelated issue had caused some of the Mercury (and some Gemini systems) Electrical Power System checks to fail and let systems work even if power was not available. This could be seen by taking the batteries off line - some systems would still work and some light bulbs would be illuminated even without power. This issue should now have been solved.


Flashes in atmosphere
I have figures out why some "flashes" in the atmosphere would be visible. These could typically bee seen when in orbit, especially in external view. A shader issue in the atmosphere renderer had a potential to output a really bright pixel.


VR Hand Controller Pitch Offset
I have started to implement a VR hand controller pitch offset property that can be used to control the relative rotation of the VR hand controller.


VR Hand Controller Position Offset
In addition to the pitch offset I have created three other properties that can be used to control the relative position of the hand controller. You can tune this to move the visual hand model in-game relative to where your controller is.

This is needed as some hardware differ in their orientation and positioning logic.

Blocking issue: TLI/SOI calculation
I have recent reports where the TLI burn that takes the Apollo craft from Earth to the Moon fails to correctly transition from the Earth sphere of influence (SOI) to Lunar sphere of influence. This patch rolls out some additional checks and logic to improve logging to help me address this. This is an issue of high priority and I will strive to fix this issue within the next few patches. There is an ongoing bug-thread related to this issue on Discord, feel free to join the discussion if you are having this issue.



Mercury Satellite clock fixes
I have made some minor improvements to the Mercury clock, dials and visor logic.



Patch notes:

• Blocking: Gemini/Agena undocking fix
  
• Critical: Mercury/Gemini EPS fixes and tuning - this was a fix for a major issue that caused some electrical systems to still function even if no power existed.
  
• "Flashes in atmosphere"-bug fix
  
• Mercury Atlas ascent guidance fixes
  
• TLI/SOI calculation
  
• Fixed some LGC programs that blocked V34/V96 etc. during the last page before a burn (before V99)
  
• VR: Added a Hand/Controller Pitch offset setting that can be used to control the offset between your hand/wrist and the VR Motion Controller.
  
• Typos and pulled in language contributions.