Comments

**Hlynkacg** · #1

Every wanted to take an Apollo Spacecraft for a spin around Brighton Beach without having to read reams of documentation (NASSP) or deal with scrambled meshes (AMSO)? I know I have.

...and given the scarcity of realistic airless-body landers with UMMU support I decided to make my own.

View image in gallery

Now I know my projects have a tendancy to become vapor-ware (which is why I haven't this posted earlier) but this one is far enough along that I feel a developement thread is warranted. For those who've been following my numerous threads on the SDK forum, this is what all the fuss has been about

Spider is based on NASA's Extended Stay Lunar Module, aka the "Lunar Taxi" which incorporated Lessons Learned from the first production run of LMs and would have provided the manned portion of the Apollo Aplications Project's dual launch lunar missions.

The Idea of this project is to balance a historically accurate performance envelope with accessibility and ease of play.

Planned Features for initial release include...

Two .DLLs one with UMMU Support, another without.
Lighting and Particle Effects.
Virtual cockpit with working gauges and controls.
Landing and Ascent autopilots.

Possibilities for future developement

Electrical and Eviromental Subsystems modeling.
UMMU/UCCGO cargo and consumables.
Other lunar module derivatives.

At this moment the only items remaining on the initial release checklist are the VC and debugging the Landing Autopilot.

View image in gallery
current state of the VC main panel (all items not drawn in pencil are up and running in the sim).

As always I'm looking for feedback, suggestions, concerns, and offers of assistance are greatly appreciated.

I'd also like to throw a major shout-out and tip of the hat to Moach, Jedia, Glider, Wishbone, and others who have graciously allowed me to exploit their knowledge and thier code samples.

Thank you all and

!

View image in gallery

---------- Post added at 11:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:53 PM ----------

UPDATED: 11/01/2012

Download the latest version here...
Added parsing of vessel config file allowing thrust and DV to be adjusted by end user.

Placeholders for the CMD and LMP Ground-speed/Slip indicators have been added as well as a 2nd ADI for the commander's position. MFD has been relocated to panel 4.

At the moment the two ADIs are slaved to eachother but support for independant operation is in work.

Sound and Switching control logic has also been debugged.
Download latest files here

Spider Lunar Lander *Beta v2.3*

Spider Lunar Lander *Beta v2.3*

New in version 2:

Lower and side control panels added
Cockpit displays overhauled
ADI ball and associated Attitude reference programs added
Switches on panels 3, 4, & 5 now have in game effects
Support for orbiter-sound added
Thruster and propellant management code rewritten
VC switch control logic rewritten
Framework for future implimentation of Life-support and consumables added
New exterior meshes
New textures

Hotfix 1: Broken link was causing CTD on stage seperation (descent stage vessel wasn't loading properly) now fixed.

Hotfix 2: In the process of fixing #1 I accidently deleted the LEM's touchdown points

it's fixed now.

Interim Update version 2.3:

Added parsing of vessel config file allowing thrust and DV to be adjusted by end user.
Placeholders for the CMD and LMP Ground-speed/Slip indicators (X-Pointers) added.
2nd ADI for the commander's position added.
MFD relocated to panel 4.

Known issues (AKA why you see "Beta" in the title)

Autopilots are unstable
Landing Gear animation is glitched
Yaw Rate needle is non functional

Planned Features

ECS and thermal modeling
Consumables and Life Support Management
UMMU support
An autopilot that wont get you killed

Source Code/Interim versions can be downloaded from my sourceforge repository here...
http://sourceforge.net/projects/spid...urce=directory

Most recent commit was on 11/01/2012.

SpaceNut · 07-09-2012, 01:38 AM

Lookin' great. Sort of an Eagle Lander 3D Orbiter add on... on steroids

4throck · 07-09-2012, 09:53 AM

I can photo texture that VC for you. I think is can be close to the original Apollo era panels, but perhaps with some Skylab/early shuttle feel thrown in? So that it is not mistaken with the original LEM?

Just post the texture you are using (is it the image you posted above?) and I'll see what I can do.

**Notebook** · 07-09-2012, 10:48 AM

Following your threads and project, vey usefull stuff, keep it coming!

n.

Eli13 · 07-09-2012, 05:28 PM

This seems to be a promising project. Keep up the great work!

**Hlynkacg** · 07-10-2012, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4throck

I can photo texture that VC for you. I think is can be close to the original Apollo era panels, but perhaps with some Skylab/early shuttle feel thrown in? So that it is not mistaken with the original LEM?

Just post the texture you are using (is it the image you posted above?) and I'll see what I can do.

I'd appreciate the that.

For the moment I've got the gauges under control but panel backgrounds and other textures (both internal and external) would be a great help (I'm not much of a 2d artist)

The pencil-style drawing that I'm using for the panel layout was copy-pasted from page 268 of the pdf I linked to. The drawings and diagrams in the back of that file show panel layouts, internal/eternal arrangement, vessel dimensions, and have been my primary design resource.

As for the rest of you... Here's a WIP render of the Ascent Stage in blender.

View image in gallery

BruceJohnJennerLawso · 07-10-2012, 03:12 PM

From a flight ops perspective, Is it going to have seperate ascent & descent stages like the original lem?

**Hlynkacg** · 07-10-2012, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceJohnJennerLawso

From a flight ops perspective, Is it going to have seperate ascent & descent stages like the original lem?

Yes it will, and staging has already been implimented.

---------- Post added at 03:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:14 PM ----------

View image in gallery

Lift Off!

4throck · 07-10-2012, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hlynkacg

The pencil-style drawing that I'm using for the panel layout was copy-pasted from page 268 of the pdf I linked to.

Cool!

Ok, looks similar to the LEM, so not that much guesswork. I can do it, no problem.

Do you agree with this look ?

It still looks Apollo but there's a certain scy-fy look in Skylab era stuff that I'd like to recreate.

Do you prefer full bright panel or a more realistic back-lit darker version? Something like this:

**Hlynkacg** · 07-10-2012, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4throck

It still looks Apollo but there's a certain scy-fy look in Skylab era stuff that I'd like to recreate.

Do you prefer full bright panel or a more realistic back-lit darker version? Something like this:
{image}

Seeing as the source material I'm using is a Skylab-era proposal I say go for it.

I also really like the atmosphere of that final image you posted.

4throck · 07-11-2012, 11:47 AM

Ok, I'll get started then. I'm a little unsure about the MFDs. They look out of place mixed with all those analog gauges.

The shuttle had CRTs from the start, so I'll try to go for this look:

N_Molson · 07-11-2012, 01:02 PM

Maybe with some color. Nowadays MFDs have excellent billion colors screens.

Also, my feeling is that the "Apollo-like" gauges have lived, like the ones under the left MFD on the pic. Almost everything is digital nowadays, even some cars begin to use those displays.

4throck · 07-11-2012, 03:16 PM

With the help of some nice reference photos, I started work on the panel and got this (resolution lowered for posting online):

Next step is to "fill in" the left part with the elements from the right. Then general cleanup, then drawing all the lines and text... and finally adjusting colors and adding the backlit effect. This will take time but well worth the effort!

For now, is it usable like this (a JPG) or should I erase all moving parts (like switches) ? I can put them in different layers if that helps.

**Hlynkacg** · 07-11-2012, 06:09 PM

Thank you 4throck, that is looking excellent.

It's certainly usable in it's current form as it's already better than what I've been using but putting all the moving elements (switches/dials) in a seperate layer would be Ideal.

This is certainly a retro spacecraft design so a retro vibe to the panel is only appropriate. I've actually considerd rendering the MFDs in green-scale (via materials properties) to simulate an old-school CRT but I wasn't sure how well that would go over with others.

I have to ask though, do you have an apollo module parked in your garage or something? Where are you getting the photos for the textures?

**Notebook** · 07-11-2012, 06:12 PM

That looks excellent, I second the retro look, you can't have too many nixie tubes and pen recorders.

N.

07-09-2012, 09:53 AM	#3
4throck Enthusiast !	I can photo texture that VC for you. I think is can be close to the original Apollo era panels, but perhaps with some Skylab/early shuttle feel thrown in? So that it is not mistaken with the original LEM? Just post the texture you are using (is it the image you posted above?) and I'll see what I can do. Last edited by 4throck; 07-09-2012 at 09:57 AM.

07-10-2012, 03:06 PM	#6
Hlynkacg Aspiring rocket scientist	Quote: Originally Posted by 4throck I can photo texture that VC for you. I think is can be close to the original Apollo era panels, but perhaps with some Skylab/early shuttle feel thrown in? So that it is not mistaken with the original LEM? Just post the texture you are using (is it the image you posted above?) and I'll see what I can do. I'd appreciate the that. For the moment I've got the gauges under control but panel backgrounds and other textures (both internal and external) would be a great help (I'm not much of a 2d artist) The pencil-style drawing that I'm using for the panel layout was copy-pasted from page 268 of the pdf I linked to. The drawings and diagrams in the back of that file show panel layouts, internal/eternal arrangement, vessel dimensions, and have been my primary design resource. As for the rest of you... Here's a WIP render of the Ascent Stage in blender. View image in gallery Last edited by Hlynkacg; 07-10-2012 at 03:18 PM.

07-10-2012, 03:22 PM	#8
Hlynkacg Aspiring rocket scientist	Quote: Originally Posted by BruceJohnJennerLawso From a flight ops perspective, Is it going to have seperate ascent & descent stages like the original lem? Yes it will, and staging has already been implimented. ---------- Post added at 03:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:14 PM ---------- View image in gallery Lift Off! Last edited by Hlynkacg; 07-10-2012 at 03:26 PM.

07-10-2012, 09:16 PM	#9
4throck Enthusiast !	Quote: Originally Posted by Hlynkacg The pencil-style drawing that I'm using for the panel layout was copy-pasted from page 268 of the pdf I linked to. Cool! Ok, looks similar to the LEM, so not that much guesswork. I can do it, no problem. Do you agree with this look ? It still looks Apollo but there's a certain scy-fy look in Skylab era stuff that I'd like to recreate. Do you prefer full bright panel or a more realistic back-lit darker version? Something like this: Last edited by 4throck; 07-10-2012 at 09:20 PM.

07-11-2012, 06:09 PM	#14
Hlynkacg Aspiring rocket scientist	Thank you 4throck, that is looking excellent. It's certainly usable in it's current form as it's already better than what I've been using but putting all the moving elements (switches/dials) in a seperate layer would be Ideal. This is certainly a retro spacecraft design so a retro vibe to the panel is only appropriate. I've actually considerd rendering the MFDs in green-scale (via materials properties) to simulate an old-school CRT but I wasn't sure how well that would go over with others. I have to ask though, do you have an apollo module parked in your garage or something? Where are you getting the photos for the textures? Last edited by Hlynkacg; 07-11-2012 at 06:34 PM.

07-09-2012, 01:38 AM	#2
SpaceNut Orbinaut	Lookin' great. Sort of an Eagle Lander 3D Orbiter add on... on steroids

07-09-2012, 10:48 AM	#4
Notebook Orbinaut	Following your threads and project, vey usefull stuff, keep it coming! n.

07-09-2012, 05:28 PM	#5
Eli13 Fish Dreamer	This seems to be a promising project. Keep up the great work!

07-10-2012, 03:12 PM	#7
BruceJohnJennerLawso Iron Hill Discovery Commander	From a flight ops perspective, Is it going to have seperate ascent & descent stages like the original lem?

07-10-2012, 09:30 PM	#10
Hlynkacg Aspiring rocket scientist	Quote: Originally Posted by 4throck It still looks Apollo but there's a certain scy-fy look in Skylab era stuff that I'd like to recreate. Do you prefer full bright panel or a more realistic back-lit darker version? Something like this: {image} Seeing as the source material I'm using is a Skylab-era proposal I say go for it. I also really like the atmosphere of that final image you posted.

07-11-2012, 11:47 AM	#11
4throck Enthusiast !	Ok, I'll get started then. I'm a little unsure about the MFDs. They look out of place mixed with all those analog gauges. The shuttle had CRTs from the start, so I'll try to go for this look:

07-11-2012, 01:02 PM	#12
N_Molson Addon Developer	Maybe with some color. Nowadays MFDs have excellent billion colors screens. Also, my feeling is that the "Apollo-like" gauges have lived, like the ones under the left MFD on the pic. Almost everything is digital nowadays, even some cars begin to use those displays.

07-11-2012, 03:16 PM	#13
4throck Enthusiast !	With the help of some nice reference photos, I started work on the panel and got this (resolution lowered for posting online): Next step is to "fill in" the left part with the elements from the right. Then general cleanup, then drawing all the lines and text... and finally adjusting colors and adding the backlit effect. This will take time but well worth the effort! For now, is it usable like this (a JPG) or should I erase all moving parts (like switches) ? I can put them in different layers if that helps.

07-11-2012, 06:12 PM	#15
Notebook Orbinaut	That looks excellent, I second the retro look, you can't have too many nixie tubes and pen recorders. N.

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