Reentry - A Space Flight Simulator News

This is a patch covering a lot of reported typos in the Academy lessons, Checklists and Panel Dictionaries. I have also been revisiting some of the Mercury and Gemini lessons to better cover the core game mechanics. The patch also removes the old and confusing Quickstart campaign and references to it in the Career node tree.
The Mercury Flight Manual has received major updates.

Removal of the quickstart
Based on feedback and user testing I have decided to remove the old and confusing quickstart campaing. It started in an advanced space craft (Gemini) and tried to cover the core game mechanics. I have updated the Mercury Academy to cover these game mechanics and better introduce you to the game, at the same time as you learn to fly and operate the Mercury capsule.

Some of you might still see to the quickstart campaing since it can be installed into the "Campaigns" folder in the games AppData folder. If you want to remove it from the Campaings menu, you can delete the Quickstart folder here:
"%LOCALAPPDATA%LOW\Wilhelmsen Studios\ReEntry\Campaigns"

Mercury Academy updates
I have updated the Mercury campaign with everything the Quickstart campaign covered. In addition, the first few lessons will teach you what the various relevant gauged and instruments should show during an ascent, and what to monitor and look for.

In the next patch, I will also update the later Mercury lessons with what values instruments/gauges should show when going through the ECS, RCS and EPS lessons.

Typos
I have been fixing a lot of reported typos and issues with lessons and missions, as reported by the community. Thank you for reporting issues!

Game Build/Compilation pipeline
Another major fix is that the pipeline to upload patches and fixes to Steam has now been fully resolved and I can resume a more normal patch pace than before. Thank you all for the patience while this issue has been a major blocker for rolling out patches for the last two months.

Manual updates
Minor updates to the Reentry User Manual:


Major updates to the Mercury Flight Manual:



Patch notes:

• Blocking bug fix: Updated a bug preventing the mission to proceed from the circulation burn in the "Loss of Signal" campaign mission.
  
• Removed the old Quickstart campaign, Academy covers it
  
• Updates to Mercury lesson 1, 2, 3 to better cover the basic game mechanics, covering frequently asked questions
  
• Updates to Academy lessons, checklists and checklist dictionary to correct reported typos
  
• Updates to Gemini checklists
  
• Mercury Flight Manual updates
  

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