Reentry - A Space Flight Simulator News

This is a minor patch correcting the following issues:
- Gemini Sequencer Lights Test
- Gemini 14 g-load on pad
- Gemini Campaign updates

The 0.97 update adds the Dynamic Skybox and the new Mission Debrief System to Project Gemini. A big update to the Gemini Flight Manual is also included, and the rendering of the same recovery ship as seen in Mercury.
In addition, I have remodeled a lot of the interactable components in the Mercury capsule.

Note: If this updates gives you issues, you can revert back to a previous version by using the Steam betas tab for the game.

Mission Debrief System for Project Gemini
The most important part of this update is the integration with the new Mission Debrief System for Gemini. As with Project Mercury, you will now get a mission summary with timeline, stats and graphs related to your Gemini mission execution.



Dynamic Skybox for Gemini
The new Dynamic Skybox has been added to Project Gemini. As with Mercury, the skybox requires quite a lot of calculations and will update at an interval of 10 seconds (or after completing a timescale). This adds the capability of night launches, and for early morning pre-launch procedures, you get to see the sun rise as you prepare for launch.



Updated Gemini Flight Manual
The Gemini Flight Manual has received an update. The screenshots has been changed, sections has been added/changed and all checklists has been updated to the latest version.



Mercury Cockpit Updates
I have doubled the resolution of the main textures used to render the Mercury Cockpit and updated fonts/font sizes and layout. A lot of the interactable switches has also been remodeled and made more realistic to improve the Mercury cabin experience.


Here is a summary of this update:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTS7MfLjp14

• Gemini: Mission Debrief System
  
• Gemini: Dynamic liftoff skybox and landing
  
• Gemini: Recovery ship
  
• Gemini Flight Manual Update (to be released on public update)
  
• Fixed: Gemini cockpit sunlight orientation relative to cockpit fix
  
• Fixed: Gemini cockpit sunlight shadow artifacts removed
  
• Mercury Cockpit updates
  
• Fixed: Mercury entry particle line in external view
  
• Fixed: Gemini entry particle line in external view
  
• Fixed: Gemini interior light bulbs illuminated when batteries depleted
  
• Fixed: Gemini entry effect during PPS burns
  
• Fixed: Engine noise from Agena PPS when fuel runs out
  
• Fixed: Agena RCS thruster jets stuck visible when OAMS is turned off
  
• Fixed: Lots of shadow artifacts in Mercury
  
• Fixed: Mercury illuminated switch sockets and EPI when it should be dark
  
• Fixed: CSM Mission Timer RESET and SET logic
  
• Fixed: FC monitoring gauges and minor CM FC logic updates
  
• Fixed: Minor CM FC purge logic changes
  
• Fixed: Gemini lights has stopped working
  
• Lots of typos and mission updates
  
• Language updates
  
• Dictionary updates
  
• Runnable checklist updates
  

Thanks to the contributors for helping make this game better and better, and to the test pilots and alpha floor players for feedback, testing and helping out.

I'm happy to share that the 0.96 update has been released! This update is focused on Project Mercury and contains a new Debrief System used to refine the "Mission Accomplished" window when ending a mission.
This first release of the Debrief System will be used to test how it works and integrates with Mercury, before being rolled out to Gemini and Apollo as well (planned for 0.97 and 0.98). It also applies a new update to the Mercury Flight Manual, the first step in updating all flight manuals and the reentry game manual before 1.0, and a dynamic skybox during pre-launch operations.

Note: If this updates gives you issues, you can revert back to a previous version by using the Steam betas tab for the game.


Mercury Debrief System
The main feature update is the improved Debrief System for Project Mercury. The goal of this system is to better communicate what goals you completed in a given mission and give you a timeline of your mission execution along with stats and graphs from various stages.

For example, the mission timeline will show you all of your main events:


And various stats and graphs can be used to analyze your mission execution and performance:


The is just the first step of this system and more stats/graphs will be added over time once I verify that the generic system works. If you have any good ideas for this, be sure to let me know!


Updated Mercury Manual
The flight manuals for Reentry is in need of updates. This is the first step of giving all of the flight manuals a big update before the 1.0 release. The screenshots has been changed, sections has changed and all checklists has been updated to the latest version.



Mercury Dynamic Skybox during pre-launch
A new dynamic skybox has been added to Project Mercury as an initial test. The skybox requires quite a lot of calculations and will update at an interval of 10 seconds (or after completing a timescale).

The sequence below shows the skybox as time to ignition counts down from T -2 hours for an early morning launch.



Updated LM/CM digits
Updated the general digits in the Command Module and the Lunar Module. This applies to the EMS and both Mission Timers in the Command Module, and the Mission Timer, Event Timer, Oxid/Fuel Quantity indicators and the Helium indicator in the Lunar Module
Command Module

Lunar module


Recovery ship in Mercury
I have added a recovery ship floating in the background when you splash down. I have reached out to various manufacturers on permission to models similar to the real recovery helicopters as well to start the journey on improving the recovery of the crew after a mission. If I do not get a response, I will use a generic helicopter model for this.


Mercury ASCS Updates
The Mercury ASCS (autopilot) has received some updates and fixes to better handle attitude maneuvering. The ASCS has previously been too perfect leaving almost no drift. This has been changed, and the logic has been modified to fix some issues present at lower framerates (faster fuel consumption, chasing impossible perfectionism, etc.).


Removed the deprecated Historical Missions tab
The "Historical" tab that was available on the main menu was replaced by the Campaign, and used to be the main red line that would guide you through the game. After the campaign was introduced, I left the tab there so the few incomplete missions would be accessible.

The Historical Missions mode will be redefined between 1.0 and 2.0, where a different mission system will be used to let you fly missions with launch date and goals similar to the real missions (campaign does this too). The Mission Creator will also let you create missions like this.

A summary of update 0.96 can be seen here:
https://youtu.be/AxQuZClklC8


List of changes:

• Added a better Mission Debrief/Summary for Mercury. This system will be applied to Gemini and Apollo in the next couple of updates.
  
• Mercury: Dynamic Skybox
  
• Recovery ship in Mercury
  
• Updated Mercury Manual
  
• ASCS fixes
  
• Light Bleed bug on some Mercury Cockpit internal models (glow in the dark)
  
• Major changes in the Mercury ASCS
  
• More Gemini mission changes for the new OBC Catchup Program procedure
  
• Modified orbital decay logic
  
• Removed the infinite fuel flag from Mercury RCS
  
• CSM: Change the Hg to He texture issue on CSM panel % F
  
• Deprecated the old "Historical Missions" section as the Campaign has been designed to guide you through similar missions. A new Historical Missions System will be implemented when the game is ready for it.
  

The 0.95 update will improve the logic surrounding Trans-Earth Injection (TEI) and how it behaves as you travel between Lunar and Earth SOI, and fixes many bugs related to this. It also adds the first PADs for the Lunar Module. These PADs will be provided when requesting PDI, Lunar Ascent and DPS burns. PAD sheets are also available in the CREW MEMBERS menu.

In addition, a lot of updates has been made to the Mercury program related to various visual models and general bug fixes all over the game.

Note: If you experience issues with this build, you can roll back to a previous version using the Steam Betas tab.

TEI
The logic surrounding TEI has been improved and should fix many of the reported issues. The two biggest issues are that it has been impossible to find a TEI-burn even if you are in a proper circular orbit around the Moon, and that the orbit is wrong once you enter Earth SOI (when timescale stops).


Initial PADs for the Lunar Module
With the changes to the DPS in the previous update, the LM has also received PADs (Preliminary Advisory Data). When requesting a DPS burn using the maneuver planner, P30 PAD is provided. Same applies for Powered Descent Initiation request and Lunar Ascent request.


Lunar Guidance Computer updates
I have corrected some major issues related to the LGC and save states, and corrected an exception that would make timers stop working correctly (mission timer in the CM and LM stops and countdowns does not work anymore).


Mercury Graphics Improvements
I have remade the Mercury LES tower, changed how it is rendered from the virtual cockpit and made some changes to the heatshield and landing bag.


Mercury Orbit Decay testing
A toggle (default off) has been added to Realism Settings to test an orbit decay function for the Mercury capsule only. This will circulate the orbit while passing through the upper parts of the atmosphere such as LEO. The closes point (Pe) of Earth will have the most drag.

VR
Some updates has been made to VR where a toggle (bindable in the Input Mapping (not for the VR controller)) to switch between 2d mode and VR mode to use features not yet implemented in VR. I have also fixed the ROGER button in the Lunar Module.

Thank you for reporting issues and helping me create a better game! :)

• TLI improvements and feature fixes
  
• Initial PAD tools for the Lunar Module
  
• PAD LM P30
  
• PAD LM PDI
  
• PAD LM Ascent
  
• Logic to test if it's possible to change between VR and 2D mode (to interact with advanced UI or VR-unsupported features)
  
• Added a Hotkey to toggle between VR and 2D mode
  
• Made the ROGER Button in the LM functional in VR
  
• Fixed some "waiting for Mission Objective to complete"-bugs
  
• Changes to Gemini ascent/insertion procedures related to OBC Catch-up routine
  
• Fixes to various campaign missions
  
• Fixed issues related to the Mission Timer in the CSM/LM
  
• LGC Memory State
  
• LGC corrupt memory fixes
  
• LGC DAP lookup fixes
  
• Updates Mercury EPS lesson
  
• Fixes to AC VOLTS gauge in Mercury
  
• Improved Mercury LES (tower) model
  
• Minor Mercury EPS lesson fixes
  
• Simpler to close the console (toggle from in-game menu or press ESC when it is open)
  
• LES rendering changes
  
• Mercury Heat Shield Post Landing material
  
• Mercury Attached heatshield on landing bag so it moves with it as it inflates
  
• TESTING: Orbit Decay (Mercury only) as an optional realism setting
  

0.94 is another stability update where a lot of bugs has been fixed. The main features are updates to the Mercury physics model (ascent, guidance) and retrofire engines, some Mercury interior fixes and updates, in addition to some huge updates to the Lunar Module inertial platform and the Lunar Guidance Computer.

Mercury Physics Update
The physics model of ascent, deorbit and entry in Project Mercury has received an overhaul, and it is finally possible to fly similar missions to what was flown in real life. Launching into orbit, with retrofire scheduled after about 4 hours and 30 minutes, just like in Mercury-Atlas 6 (Glenn), will make you splash down in a similar location to real life.


Mercury Cockpit Window
One of the features is the addition of panels or doors that can shut the Window in Mercury. It consists of three doors that can be adjusted by clicking on them, just like any other selector/knob.


Mercury Cockpit Interior
The model of the Mercury fuses has been updated to better reflect how they looked in real life, and the UV mapping issue has been fixed. Additional cockpit props has been added and the attitude gauge needles has been colored. This makes it easier to see what's pitch, yaw and roll on the attitude rate needles as they match the coloring of the axis.


Lunar Module Inertial Platform updates
The inertial platform in the Lunar Module is updated to behave more realistically. It is used to improve the methods that uses the REFSMMAT to execute other tasks such as alignment and burns.


Lunar Guidance Computer: P30 & P40
Requesting burns using the Burn Planner will insert a planned burn into the LGC (if you use it when the Lunar Module is the active space craft). The data and logic has been overhauled to be more predictable, with better default values for attitude. A new button is added to the burn planner that lets you request the REFSMMAT before the burn is requested. This allows you to align the IMU using P52. If you then request the burn, the default attitude values should make more sense (this is only needed if you want to torque your gyros ahead of a burn).

The old procedures still works, but it required you to be in control of the attitude to set in V49 (usually all zeros).



Lunar Guidance Computer: P52 opt. 1 and opt. 2
The updates to the REFSMMAT lets P52 opt.1 behave more predictable, and can be used to orient the spacecraft with the burn direction. Requesting burns using the DPS will for example give you the option to align the S/C so that the DPS engine faces prograde/retrograde (90 degrees / 270 degrees pitch). It should now be simpler to execute a DOI burn using the Lunar Module instead of the Command Module, like they did in Apollo 11.

P52 opt. 2 will let you align the platform with the local vertical at a specific mission time.


Inverted Mission Transcript
I have also reverted the Mission Transcript to make it easier to see the last message received.


Links to Space Flight Academy videos
Going forward I will be focusing on creating videos that will teach you and show you the key procedures for each space craft. I link to these has been added to the Academy.

A brief overview of 0.94 can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVLlvt4JkB0


Please see the list below for a full list:

• Mercury Physics update for more realistic atmosphere (ascent, entry)
  
• Slight Mercury Cockpit updates: New fuses and cabin props, adjustable window shields
  
• LM REFSMMAT updates to better support DPS burns
  
• LGC P30 and P40 updates. When requesting a burn, note the burn attitude offset of about 90 degrees on attitude
  
• Added support for LGC P52 opt. 2
  
• Reverted the Mission Transcript so last message is on top
  
• Some additional tuning on the CM ECS and Gemini ECS
  
• Fixed: OBC Catch-up rounding issue, so numbers match with comms
  
• Fixed: Added the missing highlighter support for 3 circuit breakers in the Command Module
  
• Fixed: Inverted LM x-pointer scale control
  
• Fixed: SPS exhaust visible when fuel is depleted
  
• Fixed: SPS fuel depletion logic
  
• Fixed: PAD toggle should now care about UI work, preventing to open them when typing in a text field etc.
  
• Fixed: dV THRUST A/B labels
  
• Fixed: G-trace line disappears when setting EMS to off
  
• Fixed: G-trace graph renderer rendered it outside the EMD display area. It's a graph but the TSS scaling changed the size of it
  
• Fixed: CM/SM jets temperature sensor offscale
  
• Fixed: Gemini navigation lesson asks to set the FDI selector to the wrong position
  
• Fixed multiple typos and issues in checklists
  
• Fixed multiple typos in language files
  
• Fixed multiple typos in missions
  
• Fixed: Inverted the Gemini lift vector. Heads up -> Lift down, as with the Command Module is correct
  
• Fixed: Gemini Event Timer sign issue
  
• Fixed: Gemini CO2 gauge limit to prevent negative readout
  
• Fixed: Agena RCS visibility
  
• Fixed: Agena engine SFX
  
• Fixed: Blank PAD visibility in Apollo
  
• Fixed: Mercury Stable Orbit should work again now (had a slight roll before)
  
• Fixed: Gemini Abort Handle (part of it was baked into a static mesh, preventing animation)
  
• Fixed: Flickering Gemini Attitude Indicator during startup routines
  
• Fixed: Gemini Rendezvous orbit prediction showed a circular orbit, it should be an elliptical orbit. Wrong lookup data was used
  

A special shoutout to all the alpha-floor testers, those who report issues and provide feedback, and to the Test Pilots. Thank you all for helping me creating a better game for all of us.

// Petri W.