Reentry - A Space Flight Simulator News

I'm happy to share that a new update has been released! The main focus has been fixing bugs reported by players and testers.

This update adds two new academy lessons for the CSM:
- Lesson 12 - Optics
- Lesson 13 - TEI lesson

In addition, I have started the immense work of brightening up the entire universe to make it less dark. There is still a lot to do here, and light balancing are needed in various situations. The Apollo CSM has also received a surface overhaul to make it look a bit better from external views.


The following bugs should be fixed:
- Gemini radar and FDI flickering issue corrected
- Apollo Pad Mission to Lunar Landing fixes to prevent the LM to go inside the Moon
- TEI tool warnings (if trying to use it in eccentric orbits etc)
- Lesson 11 - TLI updates
- Cockpit Cursor rendering order
- CSM DAP enabled during LM active flight
- Pyro battery status indicator correction
- C&D checklist fixes (still a few reported lined up)
- CSM LEB Master Alarm button push direction
- EMS functional during SPS and SIVB burns
- Feedback when MARK is pressed
- Prevent entering the LM during Saturn V ascent
- Gemini FDI ball model changes (smooth)
- Apollo C&D Inverter race condition between checklists fixed
- Roll should work in SC CONT mode
- 3 Moons (dev tool) hidden during TEI planning
- Fixed the LM Undocking academy
- Switch and lever hitbox corrections in the CSM
- Docking Probe checklist fixes
- null switch reference in CnD checklists
- Make the CSM integral light switch more reactive
- Fuel Cell reaction cbs prevents the reactant closure on all three FCs
- SCS Electronics Pwr selector to ECA during C&D
- Apollo Mission Editor fixes regarding custom SFX for a mission command
- Disable Default SFX in Apollo mission corrections
- CMS exterior fixes (normals, floating round window)
- CSM layer rendering issue if in Astonaut view on Lunar Surface, then switching to the CSM cockpit
- Typos fixes
- Increased the general brightness of the universe

Hot Fix: 0.7547
I had to roll out a minor patch fixing an issue where 1440p. resolution would prevent you from selecting the new Academy lessons.

Thank you for reporting issues, and for playing Reentry!

I'm happy to announce that the 0.75 update has now been released for public Early Access testing.

The major feature this update brings is the upgrade of Apollo from its old engine to the new TSS-enable engine. In addition, the update contains the groundwork needed by the "Apollo Systems update" such as a more detailed cockpit with almost every switch the Command Module.

The update requires you to use the new Apollo CSM cockpit as the old LOW POLY cockpit no longer fits the new panels. The old low poly model has a high priority on being refitted with the latest panel changes, and will roll out within the next few days. For performance, I recommend setting the reflection probes to OFF first, and then try with LOW or MEDIUM/NORMAL.

In summary, this update contains
- TSS for Apollo
- Command Module Optics: Telescope and Sextant
- New Campaign, covering some of the new features in the Apollo program
- Trans-Earth Injection
- Command Module interior update
- New checklists for the Command Module
- Apollo in-game Mission Editor
- Load/Save panel states for the CM and the LM
- checklists for a Cold & Dark Command Module setup
- Groundwork for the 0.8 Systems Update
- P52 option 1 and 3
- Mercury Control Center live is out from public alpha testing, and is now part of the Early Access bits.


If you missed the release stream, you can find a recording here:
https://www.twitch.tv/wilhelmsenstudios

For more details, check my previous post
https://steamcommunity.com/games/882140/announcements/detail/3026951542947874582

Join us live on the 0.75 launch viewing stream at Twitch:
https://www.twitch.tv/wilhelmsenstudios

The long awaited "TSS for Apollo" update has finally made the huge milestone of reaching the hands our Test Pilots (no ETA on public release).

The majority of the work has been on porting the Apollo implementation from the old engine to the new TSS enabled engine. TSS is the full rewrite of the integration layer between the rendering engine and the physics engine(s), something I call the True Scale System. The old integration logic was the weakest point of the simulator, and the benefits of its rewrite can clearly be seen and felt when playing Mercury or Gemini. This has been the final missing program to be ported to TSS. The work surrounding the rewrite for TSS has been immense and time consuming (taken a year in total), but well worth the efforts.

With version 0.75, TSS will be behind us and I can finally start looking ahead.

Ok, so what else can we expect to get in 0.75?

Update of the Apollo Command Module interior. I have started the work of remaking the entire interior of the Apollo Command Module. In the current version, only the panels were visible, as well as a placeholder for the interior walls, and the seats. In 0.75, I have tried to create a fusion between the very detailed and accurate Smithsonian CSM and hatch model, and the functional panels I have already made.


Trans-Earth Injection
The final piece of a full lunar mission profile has been added. A TEI burn tool can help you plan the burn needed to get back home, and reach a predefined Pe that intersects with the atmosphere.


Panel States and Cold & Dark
You now have the option to save and load panel states for both the CM and the LM, just as you can in Mercury and Gemini. In addition, I have added support for Cold & Dark setup, with realistic checklists to guide you, both from a backup crew perspective, as well as primary crew.


Systems
While version 0.8 will have the primary focus of updating and adding some Apollo systems, this version also comes with hundreds of improvements to existing systems such as the AGC, EPS, EMS, and added systems such as the optics. All the missing switches, selectors and fuses has been added to the CM, including the Lower Equipment Bay. You can toggle the seats yourself to get more space for orbital configuration.

All of the Saturn V stages have had their first overhaul from a systems perspective as well.

Optics has been a long awaited feature, and the preliminary support for Optics has been added.

You can now configure the optics and use it as an aid for navigation. The SXT or the SCT is used to scan the surrounding stars, and a star map has been added to the Mission Pad to help you. In addition, the DSKY/AGC in the LEB has been added, and is functional.

Using P52, currently supporting option 1 and 3, you can use the optics to align the current REFSMMAT (Reference to Stable Member Matrix). Option 1 can let you align the platform with the burn direction (planned using the CSM burn planner + P30), and option 3 lets you align it by marking stars.


Checklists for all of this as also been added, and the system will improve and get into a more stable and complete state in version 0.8.

Mission Editor
The in-game mission editor for creating Apollo missions has been added, and is similar to what you have in Mercury and Gemini.


Apollo CSM Campaign
A new Apollo CSM campaign has been added, made entirely with the Mission Editor. Version 0.8 will also add another Campaign into the mix.

Instead of typing more, I'll just share a couple screenshots.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

2020 was a very busy year for Reentry. The main focus was to go back and iterate on Mercury and Gemini, and update the entire project to the new Reentry Engine. Still work left here when it comes but Apollo but a lot of work has been put into it for the upcoming 0.75 update, and things are starting to look good!
Let`s take a brief look at the year so far. We started the year with version 0.5, adding the entire Apollo Lunar Ascent logic, as well as the Apollo Atmospheric entry overhaul. A new file based checklist system was also added, with an in-game editor where you could create your own checklists and share them.


We saw the big Mercury overhaul when 0.6 was released in Q1/Q2, the first to be updated to the latest engine. In addition, the Mercury campaign was added with random failures, model overhauls and a lot of new Mercury systems and checklists. We also saw the addition of the "cold & dark" sequence aka. pre-launch, and the first preliminary VR support!


Gemini had a similar update when we reached version 0.7. We saw a full cockpit overhaul, as well as an exterior overhaul in Gemini. The same VR support, in-game mission editor and campaign was added, and Gemini abort modes with some fun stuff such as testing the ejection seats. The Gemini EVA systems was re-made, as well as adding "the alligator".


We also saw the addition of the TC-50 where you can play the Reentry OST in a realistic cassette player, or even create your own mix-tapes and bring them with you on your journeys (just add .ogg music files to a folder, and they will be available in-game).


And lastly, we saw the first multiplayer mode of Reentry roll out to public testing. The Mercury Control Center (MCC) is a historic and functional recreation of the real control center used in Mercury, where players can monitor and communicate with another who plays the astronaut. The feedback has been great and I have been spectating many sessions, some so well exectued it almost felt real.



While 2020 was all about looking back and re-iterating, 2021 will be different. The first priority is the return to Apollo. The Reentry Engine has become much stronger over the year and it starts to feel really good being back in the CSM and the LM. I have done a lot of work to bring it up-to-date on the new Reentry Engine, and add some of the major systems still missing such as optics, pre-launch procedures, mission editor, a campaign. I do not have an ETA yet for the update.


Then I plan to get to the next stage of Reentry. With everything running on the latest engine, I can finally start to properly work on systems, content, polish, languages, etc. for the 1.0 release, and start looking ahead towards 2.0 with more systems and improvements to existing crafts, and the addition of a few new spacecrafts I have had in my mind and studies over the past few years.

I would like to thank all of you for being part of this journey, providing feedback, contributing and supporting the project in one way or another. You make it a lot of fun for me to work on this. I try to listen to every one of you, and together we shape the future of Reentry.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of you!