Reentry - A Space Flight Simulator News

First of all I wanted to thank you for the patience since the previous update. My build pipeline and uploading to Steam has been failing. After a long debugging round with Steam support, we identified the root cause being the ISP blocking parts of the required uploading paths, making it impossible to upload new patches to Steam. This issue is now being handled by Steam directly with the ISP. This patch has therefore been delayed for a while and does not contain issues reported during February and March. I will start to work on those next.

This update will roll out fixes for various Mercury systems, updates to the Mercury manual and fixes to the career nodes.

Note: If you are experiencing issues with this build you can roll back to the previous using the Steam Betas Tab accessible from the Steam client (games properties).

Mercury Updates
The main aspects of this update covers Mercury systems. It fixes some issues related to the Environmental Control Systems heat exchanger logic, and improves the logic of it.


It also adds some features related to the EXCESS CABIN/SUIT H2O warning light logic, and ties it to the improved Heat Exchangers.

The Mercury manual has also been updated (ECS).


Mercury Academy videos
I have created six new videos covering many of the Mercury systems, you can find them all in this playlist on YouTube:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

You can use this video together with the Mercury Academy to get a deeper understanding of how the Mercury spacecraft works.


Career Tree
I have improved some of the Career Tree logic and corrected reported issues related to some of the nodes, especially in the Apollo CSM tree.



Patch notes:

• MOCR: FC LBS/HR fraction increase
  
• Mercury Heat Exchangers logic update
  
• Mercury EXCESS CABIN/SUIT H2O warning lights logic improved
  
• Minor updates to the Mercury manual
  
• Career tree node fixes
  
• Engine tuning
  
• Mercury Academy videos
  
• Mercury Manual: ECS updates
  

The 0.99.16 update has been released. The update mostly focuses on Project Mercury where I have been correcting and reimplementing issues around the Mercury Electrical Power System and Environmental Control System.

Note: If you are experiencing issues with this build you can roll back to the previous using the Steam Betas Tab accessible from the Steam client (games properties).

Mercury Retro time
The Mercury radio command "Request Retro at next Ap" has been fixed. You can use the functional bubble button to request an update of the retro time. This will automatically configure the Time to Retro timer on the center panel.

Please note that you can always adjust the time to retro manually using the handle next to the Time to Retro timer.


Mercury Electrical Power System
I have rewritten the Mercury fuse logic and rewired some of them to improve realism. Most of the fuses containing "Emer" has been rewired to their emer backup logic as part of the sequencer (such as manually triggering functions and logic by pulling the ring handles or trigger buttons).


Mercury Environmental Control System
I have updated the Environmental Control System of the Mercury capsule to improve water/H2O dynamics. I have also fixed the H2O accumulator to correct issues where the ECS has not been capable of maintaining temperature after some time in orbit. The cabin and suit temperature control logic has been improved as well.


Apollo checklist updates
I have updated multiple checklists in the Apollo CSM mission pad with reported issues related to ground crew ingress and P40. In addition, the Apollo checklist dictionary has been updated.


0.99.16 release notes:

• Mercury EPS logic rewire
  
• Mercury ECS fixes
  
• Mercury H2O accumulator changes
  
• Mercury cabin and suit temperature control fixes
  
• Fixed the Mercury radio command "Request Retro at next Ap"
  
• Mercury: Corrected the global to inertial attitude platform disturbance after transitioning to landing
  
• Updates to Mercury ascent checklists (minor) for both Redstone and Atlas
  
• Apollo TVC: Added limits (this is still in its first dev phase)
  
• Apollo P40: Corrected checklist with regards to AC on RHC(2)
  
• Apollo Ground Ingress checklist for section P122 Optics panel fixes
  
• Apollo Checklist Dictionary Updates
  

The 0.99.15 update comes packed with a bunch of feature improvements and bug fixes corrected over the holiday. Most importantly the update fixes breaking issues such as the Gemini translation thrusters being too weak and the Apollo VR laser pointers. It also rolls out the first phase of more correct P40 procedures, adds a dedicated P40 checklist with the RUN feature.

Note: If you are experiencing issues with this build you can roll back to the previous using the Steam Betas Tab accessible from the Steam client (games properties).

What updates and fixed would you like to see?


P40 - SPS Thrusting
The AGC P40 (CSM) - SPS Thrusting program flow has been updated to better reflect the realistic program flow.

P40 will now initially request the automaneuver to desired attitude, and the Verb will indicate when the maneuver is in progress and when it is complete. Pressing PRO will re-request the maneuver, while pressing ENTER when the maneuver is complete will exit the automaneuver routine and continue the normal P40 flow. The SPS gimbal check is also added to make the P40 flow more correct (can be skipped by pressing ENTER on the SPS gimbal check cl page).


I have updated the Apollo Academy lesson to reflect this change (I would recommend you to re-take the lesson to get familiar with the new procedure).

I have added the P40 - SPS Thrusting checklist to the game. If you load up this checklist, you can read the exact procedures required, and the RUN feature will take you through it all on a basic level.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]


CSM Thrust-Vector Control (TVC) phase 1
To be able to make the P40 procedures more realistic, I went ahead and started improving the non-existing TVC logic. The first phase of this implementation contains the main logic to support the P40 procedures, and contains most of the underlying infrastructure logic and some actual TVC motion during CMC or SCS AUTO burns.

You will not need to focus on setting correct trim yet, this will still happen automatically and will always be 0.0 in pitch and yaw - so no procedural changes here except for the P40 program flow mentioned above. You can however use the trim set thumbs to set trim, and attitude input is directed to the gimbal motors (M1 and M2) based on switching.

Manual TVC is not yet supported during powered burns, but you should be able to now gimbal the SPS engine and run the P40 gimbal checks.


Star database updates
Multiple stars and constellations has been corrected and updated. I have also made updates and fixes in the Apollo Optics logic to better identify and reflect what star you are aiming at with the scopes.


Gemini updates
Multiple fixes has been applied to the Gemini translation jets (OAMS), and I have increased the forces to better support rendezvous. I also fixed a bug that made the RCS too weak, making it impossible to rendezvous.

The ADI rate needles has been inverted.


Apollo updates
Multiple updates has been applied to the Apollo CSM and LM. Mainly the G ACCEL gauge has had some issued for a while. I finally managed to identify the source of this and corrected it. I have also inverted the CSM and LM rate needles.
I also added logic to the AGC DSKY rendering procedures to support "blanks", where some register displaying certain nouns renders part of it blank such as when displaying time.


THC rotation test support
I have added support for the three CSM THC (translation controller) positions: CCW, NEUTRAL and CW and the logic is in a testing phase. The logic supports the required features needed for the P40 procedures flow, and in the future this will also support SCS/MTVC and Aborting.


VR updates
Multiple fixes and improvements has been applied to VR, mostly internal rendering logic. I have also corrected the blocking issue of the Apollo VR laser pointer being invisible.


0.99.15 release notes

• Star database updates
  
• Corrected Denebola optics ID rendering
  
• G ACCEL fixes during SPS burns
  
• Initial AGC blanks logic for some nouns
  
• Inverted CSM and LM rate needles
  
• Inverted Gemini rate needles
  
• Added the P40 - SPS Thrusting checklist
  
• Phase 1 of TVC Gimbal
  - Implemented the main features required to complete P40 checklist
  - TVC and MTVC control will come in TVC Gimbal phase 2.
  
• Updated P40 academy lesson to support the changes
  
• Minor updates to campaign 3 and 4 (Apollo campaigns)
  
• VR: Fixed the Apollo VR laser pointer
  
• Gemini translation thruster fixes
  

Reentry has been patched to 0.99.14. This patch is a minor update and will cover issues reported by the community. You can see the patch notes below:

0.99.14 release notes:

• LM V48 - DAP setup corrections
  
• HGA rendering updates
  
• CM MA fix while pausing the game
  
• Mercury Satellite Clock Hours fix
  
• Mercury external pressure fixes
  
• Mercury Going Orbital splashdown condition check corrected
  
• Mercury campaign mission updates
  
• LM Water tank qty adjustments
  
• LM RR radar fixes
  
• Gemini RCS tuning
  
• Gemini translation changes
  
• QRH updates
  

The 0.99.13 will mainly focus on the Apollo Command Module. It will correct issues reported by the community and improve existing systems. It will also improve the fuel cell purge, attitude ball drives, GDC align and HGA antenna deployment.

Note: If you are experiencing issues with this build you can roll back to the previous using the Steam Betas Tab accessible from the Steam client (games properties).

FDAI Attitude Ball improvements
I have improved the logic behind the attitude indicators (FDAI). Logic will now drive the attitude balls to the internal attitudes instead of snapping when for example performing a REFSMMAT, aligning the platform and during GDC Align.

This requires you to press and hold the GDC ALIGN button during pre-launch procedures and alignment procedures. I have updated the Academy and the checklists to include this.


Fuel Cell Purge logic
The Fuel Cell Purge logic has been improved to better reflect the real procedures - and will add up to the things you need to do during coasting. The Fuel Cell flow indicators will reflect the purge as O2/H2 flows through the system. I have also mapped the Caution and Warning System logic so that a Master Alarm will trigger due to the increased flow.



Checklists related to these procedures has been updated.



SM RCS Fuel Quantity Sensor
I have improved and fixed issues related to the SM RCS Fuel Quantity sensors used to show how much fuel you have in the various SM RCS fuel quads.


Apollo Save State improvements
I have added some new data to the Apollo Save State. The SPS Helium quantity, SPS N2 quantity, O2 and H2 quantities, and Battery A,B,C and Pyro Bat A, B charges are now stored. I have also added the triggered Failures to the save state.

HGA deployment
The High Gain Antenna logic and model has been updated. The antenna will now spring out during SIVB/SLA separation. The rotation joints has been update so both pitch and yaw is mapped correctly with the model joints.


Attitude Set Control Panel (phase 1)
I have started to work on the logic behind the Attitude Set Control Panel to better reflect real procedures. The switches related to the platform and GDC align has also been reimplemented. You should now be able to follow more realistic procedures when performing a GDC Align such as aligning the GDC with the IMU inertial platform.

The simplified logic still exists and is the recommended approach. If you set the ATT SET switch on MDC-1 to IMU and press in GDC ALIGN, the GDC platform will automatically be set to exactly match the IMU platform.

If you set the ATT SET switch to GDC, you will need to use the procedures to set the attitude using the ASCP, then press and hold the GDC ALIGN button while the new logic will drive the attitude towards the desired alignment attitude set on the ASCP.


N20 has also been update to map the angels better


Note: This logic still have some issues when the attitude is far or facing Euler challenges, so if you execute this procedure and the logic is unable to align and drive the platform correctly, use the simplified approach, or maneuver the command module closer to null the error needles in ATT SET->GDC mode.

Checklists related to these procedures has been updated.

SPS Pc gauge
I have fixed a bug that would freeze the SPS Pc gauge at 45. The gauge should now show the SPS thrust while performing an SPS burn.

Patch Notes:

• Updates to the FC1,2,3 purge logic
  
• Fixed the SPS Pc gauge to monitor SPS thrust
  
• Fixed the SM fuel qty sensor -> gauge on the MDC-2
  
• Corrected a typo in the SPS Deorbit (Earth Entry) checklist
  
• Apollo Save State improvements
  
• Attitude ball drives
  
• ASCP improvements
  
• HGA deployment
  
• HGA pitch/yaw control joint updates
  
• Backspace will null rates in Mercury and Gemini