Reentry - A Space Flight Simulator News

The 0.997 patch is mainly about correcting and tuning systems. It addresses some major issues around Gemini ascent. The patch also introduces a new system designed to help you navigate all the content of the game.

Note: If you are experiencing issues with this update, you can always revert to an earlier build using the Steam Betas Tab.


Career path node view
The "CAREER" view accessible from the Main Menu is designed to help new players navigate the content of the game and will try to guide you to learning a specific space craft. This is the first iteration of this and will continue to evolve going forward.

The first thing you need to do is to select the active space craft (this can be changed at any time). The career window will then show you how far you have progressed through the content specific for the selected space craft.


This screen will show you how far you have progressed on the various space crafts, your awards and various ranks tied to that craft (like your astronaut rank, mission controller rank, capcom rank and flight director rank).

Once you select a space craft (click on it), you will find a node based path where you can see how to receive awards and progress through learning a craft and playing it in the game.


Your current level and xp needed to reach the next level is visible on the Profile page. I have added the capcom and flight levels to this screen as well.


Note: You don't need to unlock the flight and capcom paths to join a mission control session as capcom of flight, but it will help you learn the needed knowledge to become a better capcom/flight.


Gemini Ascent fixes
One of the major issues is around Gemini ascent. This version seems to be correcting the ascent for many, but more testing and fixes are needed to make it stable.
If you are having issues with Gemini ascent, it would be great if you can reach out so I can get more data as I'm unfortunately unable to reproduce the issues on the test-computers I have available.

A dedicated thread on the Discord server has been set up for those who might still face these issues. Use this thread to report issues and discuss.
You can find the thread here: https://discord.com/channels/510845247404769331/1090688922767589457

Note: If you are not on Discord, feel free to use the Steam Community forum for this.


Gemini Campaign fixes
Multiple fixes are applied to the Gemini ascent, both mission sequences, instructions and fixes around completing issues.
If you complete a Gemini campaign mission using this build, and the campaign mission selector still don't show this, let me know and please supply the log-file so I can analyze.

If you are still facing issues related to this, you can use the following thread on Discord:
https://discord.com/channels/510845247404769331/1090688922767589457

Note: Again, if you are not on Discord, feel free to use the Steam Community forum for this.


Command Module entry guidance tuning
The recommended entry method is still to use manual control. However, I have made the 2nd iteration to make automatic entry guidance and RCS usage more stable. The guidance should now be much smoother and better on RCS usage.
Illustration: NASA

Mission Control Module entering alpha 2
With this update I will start the 2nd alpha round for the Mission Control multiplayer modules. A critical issue has been fixed that made MOCR crash after about 10 minutes of gameplay due to the major engine update that was rolled out a few patches ago.

Multiplayer modes are mainly are scheduled for version 1.2 -> 2.0 but will required significant testing, hence these early alpha testing rounds.

We will now get back into organizing official mission control sessions that you can join to learn all about being a Mission Controller and test if the new Mission Control nodes in the Career Path works.

Once the full development starts on Mission Control (1.2 -> ), the ranks you have earned will be visible on the joined player lists.



Thanks to the Test Pilots, Alpha Floor testers, and the community for helping me create this game!

Patch notes:

• Career path node view
  
• Fixed various MOCR crash to desktop issues
  
• Campaigns achievements unlocks
  
• Entry CM stability
  
• Entry RCS forces and logic
  
• Entry RCS jittering and oscillation tuning
  
• CM entry guidance iterations
  
• CM SCS rate switch rewiring to correct issue where it also affected the FDAI rate bands.
  
• Profile: Save player and capsule name issue corrected
  
• Gemini ascent
  
• Another iteration of km -> nmi in Gemini Campaign missions
  
• Gemini campaign 2 updates
  
• RCS -> OAMS fix in Gemini Burns lesson
  
• Campaign Save State fixes related to loading and completing missions when loading from state
  
• Changed initial retro time on Gemini campaign missions
  
• Increased the view range of the Lunar EVA astro and LRV cameras
  
• Fix for camera teleport issue during Lunar EVA if pressing F5->F11
  
• Fixes for the Gemini campaign completion issue
  

I'm happy to share that the 0.996 patch has been released! This sure took a good while due to the complexity of the issues I was trying to solve. But first of all, thanks to everyone who has been helping me with this build.

As with any 0.9 patch, the main goal is to improve the game and correct issues. In this patch you will find the option to disable the quindar tone (the beep when you receive a message), the ability to restart a mission and general improvements to the game.
Note: If you are experiencing issues with this update, you can always revert to an earlier build using the Steam Betas Tab.


Option to disable the quindar tone
The quindar tone was a tone used for recording purposes and is a tone you hear in-game when receiving a radio message (along with some random generated static). This tone can be heard in any real recording of a radio transmission during the Apollo program. However, this is mostly "cosmetic" as the astronauts did not hear this.

This update will let you disable this if you wish. You can do this from audio settings accessible from the Main Menu.



Restart missions
After a lot of feedback and requests, I have finally managed to spend some dev cycles on creating a restart mission button. This button is accessible from the Mission Debrief screen. Pressing this will restart and reload the current mission so you can try it again (in case you failed, want to improve etc.). This is added to all modules (Mercury, Gemini, Apollo).



Lunar Contact light
I have fixed the logic behind the Lunar Contact light to extinguish after DPS shutdown. This light should no longer illuminate during the lunar stay, ascent and return journey.



Gemini roll program
The majority of the dev cycles has been going into figuring out why the Gemini roll program fails, leading to a catastrophic ascent for some of you.
I was able to reproduce this issue 100% of the times (given the launch conditions reported by you where this usually happens). I wrote a fix and have ran tests on it and I am no longer able to reproduce this. However, due to the complexity if this issue, it might still be there so please let me know if you still experience this.



TEI Tool
I have had multiple reports of the TEI tool not working. After looking at data and logs, it seems the main issue is that the tool is opened too soon, before the entire state is properly loaded and the world is aligned. When loading a mission, take a look at the map data to see that you are in the correct orbit before trying to open the TEI tool.

I have changed some logic in the TEI tool and have added a warning message if it detects that the state is not in a good shape yet.



Command Module RCS
Multiple fixes to the internal logic of the Command Module RCS systems, both SM and CM.



Mercury AC volts gauge
I fixed an issue in the logic behind the Mercury AC volts needle logic that visually communicated the wrong value of the AC systems. This should now be corrected.



Thanks again to all the Test Pilots, moderators and community members who help me by providing feedback, testing and reporting issues!

Patch notes:

• Continued to iterate on the major rendering engine update introduced a few patches back
  
• Option to disable the quindar tone
  
• Restart missions (End Session -> Restart Mission)
  
• Gemini roll program fixes
  
• Gemini Campaign mission 1 logic changes during initial ascent
  
• TEI tool warning when not yet in a good state
  
• Added a state loading check to TEI
  
• Fixes to the Mercury AC volts gauge
  
• Lunar Contact light should turn OFF after DPS Shutdown.
  
• Minor changes to the logic behind RCS Logic cbs
  
• Minor changes to the logic behind SCS Controller cbs
  
• Typos
  

The 0.995 patch mostly contains bug fixes (2 blocking) and minor improvements. The biggest changes are some core fixes to the IMUs in Gemini and the Command Module, and ascent guidance for both the Titan-II and the Saturn V.

Note: If you are experiencing issues with this update, you can always revert to an earlier build using the Steam Betas Tab.

Initial CM Entry Guidance
This update rolls out the first (originally planned for post 1.0) entry guidance logic designed to make you survive entry in AUTO mode (PGNCS controlled). I decided to roll this out before 1.0 to start testing and gathering data (will it actually make you survive). I still recommend the manual entry mode but if you want to try this, set the CMC to AUTO and keep a steady hand at the manual takeover. :)


Cockpit Layering Alignments
Some major changes has been done to the cockpit layering alignments. This will improve the relative movement of the camera inside the cockpit and it's view out through the windows. This will let you better see the angle and differences of docking targets from both the commanders and pilots side for example.


Blocking fix: Ascent Guidance
There has been some recent reports of broken ascents in Gemini and Apollo due to the alignment updates in 0.994. This update should fix this.


Mission Messages
I have changed so the messages you get when making radio requests, planning burns and requesting pads gets injected after the current message (so it won't render above current message) and some changes to TTS related to this. They are also colored differently so its easier to see that something has been injected into the queue.


Lunar Contact light
Decided to make the blue lunar contact light in the Lunar Module nicer. :)


Thanks to everyone who has been providing feedback, reporting issues and a special thanks to all the Test Pilots!

Change log:

• IMU pad alignment corrections for CMC/SLV
  
• IMU pad alignment corrections for Gemini/Titan
  
• Gemini Titan and Apollo SLV ascent guidance
  
• Blue LM Landing light fixes
  
• Gemini cockpit view alignments
  
• Command module cockpit view alignments
  
• Lunar Module docking view alignments
  
• Made so request and prioritized messages will be added 2nd in line, below current message
  
• Made so the request and prioritized message boxes are colored differently
  
• Added first version (designed to survive) entry using the AGC / PG&NCS
  
• Dynamic Skybox Updates
  
• Update Notes spacing
  
• RCS Jets label updates to Apollo Switch Dictionary
  
• Minor cl changes regarding entry pad request for earth entry.
  
• Typos
  

The main part of the 0.994 patch is a major upgrade of the rendering engine. Finally, after a couple of years in Unity 2019, the engine has been upgraded to the latest Unity Long Term Support version (2021.3). This affects most aspects of the game so you might notice some improvements to graphics, antialiasing, and performance. Due to the size of the project, please expect some upgrade-artifacts that is yet to be detected.

Note: If you are experiencing issues with this update, you can always revert to an earlier build using the Steam Betas Tab.

Unity 2019 -> Unity 2021.3 Upgrade
The rendering engine Reentry runs on has been stuck in version 2019 due to being required to use some features that was deprecated in Unity 2020. The major blocking feature was the research I was doing related to the preliminary VR implementation. This implementation has now been deprecated and move to a dedicated branch named VR.

Along with this I have been working a lot on performance optimization and rendering to improve the visual quality of the sim. You will most likely not notice much here but iterations on this is always a step in the right direction.

With this update, Reentry runs on a modern engine at the latest stable version. This can also fix bugs related to unity engine crashes, but also at the same time introduce new. I wanted to do this update asap, so we can get your experience reports on it before the 1.0 milestone.


Launch, Ascent and the Atmosphere
The launch areas has had some offsets and been moving around a bit during EA. I have now fixed these and positioned things correctly, as well as increased the resolution and quality of the area around launch. This is visible during ascent. I have also made some tweaks to the rendering of the atmosphere.


Quickstart changes
One of the most important parts of the game for new players is the quickstart. This has been modified and updated to only contain two missions, where the focus is camera control, interaction, checklists, maneuvering and mission execution, just to get you started.


Roadmap
A first version of an in-game roadmap has been added. It does not yet contain anything post 1.0 (this will be announced soon), but will be a central location where you can read up on the main features of the game and their goals/purpose.


Fixed the LM LGC sequential button press bug
When running a checklist in the Lunar Module, and the checklist contains multiple presses on buttons such as the LGC buttons, they would automatically proceed as you had been pressing the button in a previous step. This annoying bug as finally been fixed.


Camera snap points
Using the Function keys or the View Selector to move the camera will now also snap the cameras orientation to a predefined orientation that makes more sense with the view. This will make you see the COAS directly when pressing the LM Overhead camera, or seeing the Optics in the CSM when selecting the LEB view, or seeing the ECS in the LM even if its behind you, or seeing the Computers when you select a computer view, etc.


Virtual Reality
The current preliminary VR implementation has been scrapped and moved to a dedicated branch to allow for the engine to be updated from 2019 to 2021.3. This was required to start implementing the new VR implementation as it was with Unity 2020 that the methods used for VR was changed. This has been planned and the new VR implementation will be leveraging what I learned from the preliminary implementation.

If you still want to use the old VR version, you can find it on the Steam Betas Tab, on the branch named Virtual Reality.


Alpha Features
Alpha Features not part of the core game targeted for the 1.0 milestone has been marked as alpha features. You can opt-in or opt-out from any of these incomplete features from Alpha Features section found in the bottom of the MAIN MENU -> SETTING page. Simply enable the features by using the check box and restart the game to install the bits.

If you are using the Alpha-Floor branch and it contains alpha-bits, these features will always be enabled.

Alpha features are features like:
- Mercury Control Center
- Apollo Mission Control
- Challenges
- Virtual Reality
- etc.

Thank you for playing Reentry, and to everyone who has been reporting issues and provided suggestions! A special thanks to all the Test Pilots who have been part of testing these bits.


Change log:
- Major change: Updated the rendering engine from Unity 2019 to latest 2021.3 LTS
- Major change: Updated internally used libraries to support latest version of reentry
- Major change: Old VR implementation moved to a dedicated VR-branch.
- Performance optimizations in all programs, and rendering stability
- Some minor changes to the Earth atmosphere
- Overhaul of the Quickstart campaing
- Added a road map, will soon be populated with post 1.0 features
- Alpha Feature opt-in
- Moved the Mercury ascent data down
- A lot of updates to missions, language, dictionary and campaigns
- Fixed the Checklist Run feature related to Lunar Module button presses
- Made so the camera snaps to an orientation when using the function keys/view selector
- P12 LM ascent guidance updates

Reentry has been patched to 0.992 and contains the following changes:

• Gemini radar lock-on light does not extinguish after radar is turned off
  
• LM ascent stage cutoff immediately after ignition during lunar ascent in some save states
  
• UMA rebuild (rendered only headsets in character editor)
  
• Removed deltaRoll from logs
  
• Gemini SII lights amber during SII burn (race condition)
  
• Mercury ECS temperature fixes
  
• Mercury Temp Check updates
  
• Gemini Rate Command thruster fix
  
• Fixed loading data screens for MCC and MOCR
  
• Added missing Para and Para Jett buttons to Gemini Checklist Dictionary
  
• Gemini TTR (Time to Retro) OBC variable fixes
  
• Dynamic Skybox refresh fixes
  
• Mercury LES abort propulsion visibility in Virtual Cockpit fixes
  
• Mercury LES jettison burn timing
  
• A lot of typos corrected