News The Space Shuttle for Flightgear 3.6

[Thorsten]

A very short flight in the Shuttle with a wet end - 2EO BLUE contingency abort:


Two main engines fail during stage 1, that's in the BLUE contingency region. Guidance immediately lofts the trajectory while the SRBs are still on to get some extra time.

Directly after SRB separation, the Shuttle rolls using single-engine roll control (SERC) via the RCS. That is rather busy doing the OMS propellant dump at this point, because we need to get rid of the extra weight shifting the CoG in a hurry, so it works by extinguishing the jet opposite to the one you'd usually fire.



The remaining engine is throttled to 109%, nevertheless the trajectory prediction looks bleak as we roll into entry attitude...



All the remaining time with the good engine is used to blast towards the horizon and build up some speed to improve the entry phase:



A quick ET separation, of course the propellant dump is not quite finished, so the separation looks a bit unusual...



During Nz hold, we pull some 2.8 g, could be worse, initially elevons are fully deflected without reaching the desired AoA, but luckily that's still enough and as the atmosphere gets denser the control issues get better. Of course there's nowhere to go with the remaining energy, so after the Shuttle gets subsonic, bailout AP is activated to hold a constant descent, and after the call to coast guard, everyone abandons the Shuttle and jumps into the ocean.

 

[Thorsten]

Bermuda landing after a 2 EO Green abort:

 

[Gingin]

A quick overview of the last part of Entry preparations done before returning to Earth after our long polar trip.

MCC sent the Deorbit burn datas to the crew.

Pre-Deorbit and Deorbit lines from the Deorbit Entry Landing Preliminary Advisory Datas (DELPAD) are filled.
APU start up sequence and decision altitudes in case of engine failure(s) or leakage are now known for a more efficient crew reaction in case of off-nominal Deorbit burn.

Burn in progress

Entry and TAEM/Landing data’s are summed up on another cue card.

Entry interface with a steep Reentry Angle of 2 ° and nominal range to Edwards.

Closed loop guidance flying through an Aurora.

Alaska sightseeing Tour.

4440 Nm later, while approaching Mach 2.5 , Software goes from Entry soft to TAEM guidance.

And after 5 mn of iron gliding and a flown Heading Alignment Cone as forecasted by the cue card, wheels are stopped and post landing procedures can begin

 

[Thorsten]

The new version of the FG Space Shuttle Flight Manual corresponding to the milestone 13 is out - get your updated copy here!

 

[Gingin]

Some news about some work being done on the dev branch, mainly about TAEM and Entry guidance algorithms.


TAEM and Autoland logic

TAEM and Autoland original logics are now well implemented based on NASA documentations.
More informations and full bibliography are available there: TAEM and Autoland original guidance

It is quite fun to test it with bad weather and low visibility operations.
State Vector needs to be well updated using all the available filters ( Tacan, MLS, GPS, air datas from Probes, …) in order to have a pinpoint landing.

Misty landing and X-wind Autolanding in KSC, wheel into the wind touching first






Cavok and still air Autolanding



Night Autolanding and sloped runway qualification in Easter Island


Back to Edwards concrete runway




Entry logic

Same work was made for Entry logic, based on algorithms used in NASA documentations.
It can handled a wide range of energy conditions, and several abort modes with some additional logic (Trans Atlantic Abort and Abort Once Around)
All the informations there :Entry original guidance





Boundary between Entry and TAEM ( 80000 feet-ish / Mach 2.5 / 60 Nm-ish) is better handled Energy wise with those new logics.

Right picture: End of Entry guidance
Left picture: New batch of softwares / Start of TAEM guidance / Almost at the true velocity and on the path targeted 4000 Nm earlier.




Fun challenges ( Short runway / High elevation airfields)

Paro (item 91) Bhoutan
Runway 33 only due to terrain.
It requires some headwind and some short speedbrakes logic.
Manual flare to force a high angle of attack for a low ground speed at touchdown.
Challenging !

 

[Gingin]

Innsbruck (item 92)
Runways 08/26 are available for Autolanding

 

[Gingin]

Spring News on the dev branch: https://sourceforge.net/p/fgspaceshuttledev/code/ci/development/tree/

1)A new Orbital Insertion AP based on the real one used, a deeper version of the Powered Explicit Guidance scheme: https://www.orbiterwiki.org/wiki/Powered_Explicit_Guidanc
A verstatile and powerful tool for nominal operations (Orbital insertion) and intact aborts(TAL and ATO for now).

Complete sum up of the FG Unified Powered Explicit Guidance there: https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=87&t=40190


2)RMS cam view:

Latest screenshots

Nightshift

Morning Launch

Orbital insertion

Test phase

TAL to ZAZ to test Ascent, Entry and TAEM algorithms resilience.
A true simulator script, with electrical failures and kind of ECAM actions while performing the intact abort.

Roll to heads up

Entry

80000 pieds et Mach 2.5, TAEM

Final

20° path, quite impressive view from the Mission Specialist seat

Flare

 

[Gingin]

Video about TAL to Istres.

 

[Matias Saibene]

I didn't know that Flightgear could also simulate space flight. I am pleasantly surprised by the level of detail on the shuttle.

 

[thermocalc]

Dear FG Space Shutte enthusiasts,

I may kindly need your guidance for buying a new computer, only for simulation purposes, approximate budget 4’000-5’000 euro/dollars, expected life span 5 years minimum.

This is what I would like to run without any frame rates or visual issues in future, enjoying high resolutions sceneries or textures or whatever is there to improve the simulation visual experience.

SOFTWARE

• The new Xplane 12 and Xplane 11 (=which I already have and run, but only at minimum (medium) default settings for airliners (General Aviations) planes respectively; otherwise, frame rate drops to unacceptable levels to get a smooth flying experience).
• Orbiter 2016, Orbiter 2016 beta and the future Orbiter when it will be released. (While NASSP v8 still seems to run smoothly on the beta, Mercury by BigMac, SSV by GLS, Soyuz by Diogom are currently very difficult to fly, as the frame rate is too low, movements are not smooth, so I guess as they will be further developed, I will need definitely a new pc to run them, and I want to get ready)
• Flightgear Space Shuttle – with real grate disappointment, currently I cannot fly it, as frame rates are too low; can only lift off, get into orbit and do orbits operations, tests systems, learn to use checklists, but cannot do any reentry, any abort, as movements are not smooths at all so cannot control smoothly the vehicle -> and this explain why i posted here, as the FG space shuttle MUST BE WORKING in my new pc
• Re-entry: even if not free I would like to run it, but currently I didn’t dare to buy it as I am sure if it will work on my old pc
• Latest, I would like to get also Digitial Combact Simulator (DSC) up and running (actually this is my son wish, but I guess I may also enjoy it, as far as the videos i have seen).

HARDWARE

• I would like to can use Virtual Reality (VR) devices / gadgets for those sims which allow them to be used.
• connect and use at least 2 or 3 videos to split view while flying (of course monitor costs are not included in my budget mentioned above)
• connect Radder pedals (=finally opening the doors to helicopters flying) + control stick or yoke + throttle quadrant and maybe others external gadgets for airplane simulators available.

Sorry to take your time to read me, but don’t want get cheated once again buying a medium performing pc, as my new PC should be designed ONLY to run these sort of “games” / simulators, without many compromise configurations to can do a little bit of this and a little of that … (as i was told initially when i got this pc).

of course i am going for a DESKTOP this time.

Looking forward to get the best suggestions from you.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Max-Q]

Dear FG Space Shutte enthusiasts,

I may kindly need your guidance for buying a new computer, only for simulation purposes, approximate budget 4’000-5’000 euro/dollars, expected life span 5 years minimum.

This is what I would like to run without any frame rates or visual issues in future, enjoying high resolutions sceneries or textures or whatever is there to improve the simulation visual experience.

SOFTWARE

• The new Xplane 12 and Xplane 11 (=which I already have and run, but only at minimum (medium) default settings for airliners (General Aviations) planes respectively; otherwise, frame rate drops to unacceptable levels to get a smooth flying experience).
• Orbiter 2016, Orbiter 2016 beta and the future Orbiter when it will be released. (While NASSP v8 still seems to run smoothly on the beta, Mercury by BigMac, SSV by GLS, Soyuz by Diogom are currently very difficult to fly, as the frame rate is too low, movements are not smooth, so I guess as they will be further developed, I will need definitely a new pc to run them, and I want to get ready)
• Flightgear Space Shuttle – with real grate disappointment, currently I cannot fly it, as frame rates are too low; can only lift off, get into orbit and do orbits operations, tests systems, learn to use checklists, but cannot do any reentry, any abort, as movements are not smooths at all so cannot control smoothly the vehicle -> and this explain why i posted here, as the FG space shuttle MUST BE WORKING in my new pc
• Re-entry: even if not free I would like to run it, but currently I didn’t dare to buy it as I am sure if it will work on my old pc
• Latest, I would like to get also Digitial Combact Simulator (DSC) up and running (actually this is my son wish, but I guess I may also enjoy it, as far as the videos i have seen).

HARDWARE

• I would like to can use Virtual Reality (VR) devices / gadgets for those sims which allow them to be used.
• connect and use at least 2 or 3 videos to split view while flying (of course monitor costs are not included in my budget mentioned above)
• connect Radder pedals (=finally opening the doors to helicopters flying) + control stick or yoke + throttle quadrant and maybe others external gadgets for airplane simulators available.

Sorry to take your time to read me, but don’t want get cheated once again buying a medium performing pc, as my new PC should be designed ONLY to run these sort of “games” / simulators, without many compromise configurations to can do a little bit of this and a little of that … (as i was told initially when i got this pc).

of course i am going for a DESKTOP this time.

Looking forward to get the best suggestions from you.

Thank you in advance.

First, don't buy a PC for this performance this level, build one. It is really easy, and Google can help if you get stuck.
You will get a better deal over a factory built machine and a much higher quality (not junk components) end result.

X-Plane is the most demanding thing you want to run, so build the machine for that.

Now into my hardware suggestions: (Beware, I am in the US so hardware prices might be different here)
When in doubt, overbuild! More powerful hardware than you need right now is never a bad thing...
For the most software you want to run, it is GPU heavy. I wouldn't suggest anything lower than an NVIDIA RTX 2060 or equivalent graphics card with 6+ GB of graphics RAM. As far as VR support, make sure the graphics card you buy advertises that it is VR ready.
X-Plane 11 is CPU dependent, max clock speed is the name of the game here, rather than a bunch of cores. Aim for 4 GHz clock speed or higher. That said, more cores is always good!
You should have at least 32 GB of system RAM, more is always better.
If you want more detailed suggestions, please sent me a PM and I would be happy to help!

 

[thermocalc]

dear MaxQ thank you, highly appreciated your words.
I guess i can find some friends who know how to assemble a computer, as far as i know what to buy, as they cannot guide me in doing that as not too much "gaming/simulations" oriented people around me .... so maybe thanks to you i could make a list of things to have and then looking around where to purchasing the components.
but how can i contact you to get your offered help? do i need to click on your profile and click on "start a conversation?
is that a private form of communications?
or can i just put my email here or is it against the forum rules to post emails?
sorry for these stupid questions but really i never contacted anybody before in any sort of forum...i would highly appreciate to get in contact with you.
thank you and sorry to clutter this tread with this hardware related questions....

 

[Max-Q]

but how can i contact you to get your offered help? do i need to click on your profile and click on "start a conversation?
is that a private form of communications?

Exactly. Yes, it is private.

sorry for these stupid questions but really i never contacted anybody before in any sort of forum...

There are no stupid questions!

 

[Gingin]

Some news.

A new display that was available in the latest Shuttle software update (OI-33) which debuted with STS-126: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/126-debut-oi-33-rco-ability/

It helps with situational awareness for Ascent, Entry and ECAL aborts.
Only the Entry part of the Spec 54 is supported for now.
Not too much datas about it.
Here are the informations about the display coming from the OI-33 update at the end of the latest SCOM.

*Three items are available for crew inputs in Spec 54 display (item 41, 1 and 2).
Item 41 will choose the targeted site (and it will update the Entry guidance accordingly).
Item 1 and 2 will allow to select the alternate sites to assess the range / delta azimuth / energy condition.
To use those latest items, the alternate site mode must be activated in OPS 304 display (item 4) (Red arrow).
Two rings with some range indications in Nautical Miles are displayed (4000 / 2000 / 1000 / 500 / 250 / 125).
A white azimuth line links the Shuttle symbol to the targeted landing site.

Pink arrows show the relative position of alt sites on spec 54 and the Shuttle energy status alt sites wise in OPS 304.

*Roll reversal lines are displayed to indicate when the Shuttle should roll in the opposite direction for crossrange consideration.
Dashed lines are for 10 degrees roll reversal and plain lines are for actual roll reversal logic (10° or 17°).
First roll reversal will be done at 10° of delta azimuth (left picture).
Then up to mach 4, roll reversal will happen at 17° of delta azimuth (plain lines "open" in the middle picture).
Below mach 4, roll reversal will happen at 10° of delta azimuth again (right picture).

*Shuttle symbol will bank according to real bank experienced.

*An overbright blank “+” is also displayed off the nose of the orbiter representing the instantaneous impact point (iip). It represents where the Shuttle would end if nothing was changed to the L/D profile (ie. Shuttle bank roughly).

Some screens from a mission to Hubble

On the pad


Orbital Insertion


Orbital Ops






Entry

 

[Gingin]

A slightly fictionnal video about a foggy autoland using genuine guidance:

A new TAL landing site to Hao in French Polynesia, which would have been a TAL / Emergency Landing Site (ELS) for Vandenberg Launch

TAL test to French Polynesia from Vandenberg.
A quick journey over the Pacific.



Interior vibe

Into the bucket

SRB sep

TAL abort

Roll to Heads Up

MECO

Entry part 1

Thermal stress maximal

Almost there, Entry part 4

TAEM, Hao in sight

HAC time

MLS active

Sunrise at the far side of the world

 

[Gingin]

Some fresh news on the project still in dev.
Wiki is up to date with the latest changes on the dev branch: FG Shuttle wiki


February 2025 Dev Version

A sum up of what we can find in the dev branch and what has been done since the last stable release end of 2021.



Ascent / Entry / TAEM
Some deep reworks on the guidance part.
Ascent: https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=87&t=40190
Entry: https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=87&t=39541
TAEM: https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=87&t=39098


GRTLS / 2EO ontigency abort / ECAL
ECAL automation and GRTLS deeper logic for contigency and RTLS aborts
https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=87&t=42887&p=428779#p428779


Mission file
The most interesting thing about mission file addition is:
Two tage bucket option ( Nominal throttle --> First throttle down --> Second throttle down --> Throttle up). It was the case on a few flights.
The few lines that changed in the mission files.

*throttle-down-velocity-1: First stage bucket throttle down Vtrue
*throttle-down-velocity-2: Second stage bucket throttle down Vtrue
*throttle-up-velocity: Throttle up Vtrue
*throttle-down-1-to-percent type: Thrust setting for first throttle down ( if a one stage bucket is desired, we need to put the nominal thrust value instead of a lower value)
*throttle-down-2-to-percent type: Thrust setting for second throttle down ( or first throttle down for a one stage bucket)

<throttle-down-velocity-1 type="double">650</throttle-down-velocity-1>
 <throttle-down-velocity-2 type="double">792</throttle-down-velocity-2>
 <throttle-up-velocity type="double">1304</throttle-up-velocity>
 <throttle-nominal-percent type="double">104.5</throttle-nominal-percent>
 <throttle-down-1-to-percent type="double">89.0</throttle-down-1-to-percent>
 <throttle-down-2-to-percent type="double">72.0</throttle-down-2-to-percent>

I presetted the standard one stage bucket values for all mission files except for Hst.xml where the Qbar is the highest.

For a two stage, that gives the following example:

Landing sites

New landing sites available in addition of those that are in the manual.

Madrid Barajas TAL item 10 (18R/32L)
Hao French Polynesia ELS item 40 (12L/30R)

Edwards Air Force Base Lakebed STS 1 Rwy 23L/05R item 90

For the challenge:
Paro item 91 (15/33)
Innsbruck item 92 (08/26)

Ivalo item 93

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/2316/iKwmeS.jpg

ECAL landing sites
Item 19: Cherry Point
Item 20: Wallops
Item 21: Dover AFB
Item 22: Gabreski
Item 23: Cape Code Otis


Displays
Spec 54 bearing DPS page for entry: https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=87&t=37429&start=90

Spec 54 for ECAL abort adding extra cues to have a better situatuinal awareness

Textures
HD external textures coming from Wolf (Big thanks to him)
It can be activated following the same method that for external tank color.

CCTV canvas for better RMS ops

Misc
Better DPS realism (MNVR page mainly)

 

[Gingin]

A journey to US East Coast testing the ECAL automation.
The Spec 54 is really useful to help with different possibilities.
Some insights of the new display Spec 54 that will kick in at Alpha recovery phase, showing the main targeted airfield and two other one's for a better situation awareness.

Alpha recovery

MPS feedlines dump

Mission specialist view

Nz Hold, hot!

Automatic bank towards the targeted site at the end of Nz hold phase, just before Alpha transition

With Spec 54, we can see different energy levels of different site.
For the targeted one (Otis), we are high on energy and S-turns are triggerd.

The alternate 1(Pease in white) has a better energy ratio.
We can then change the targeted site to Pease to have more nominal steering towards it. It is now displayed in yellow, and energy is perfect.

Closing in.

Coast in sight.

Before the transition towards TAEM

After the transition, we see that energy level is almost the same with the yellow ladder and thicks.
Guidance was really accurate !

View from the ground.

Final with a good state vector, almost no corrections.

Welcome back !

 

[JMW]

WOW!! What a beautiful experience.
Like being right on board (with someone else doing all the work )

 

[Gingin]

Contigency abort to Pease in a small video.

 

[Gingin]

Hubble rendez vous and retrieval mission

Madagascar

Lambert targeting for the last part of rendez vous

Hubble sighting

Proximity Operations and grappling

Overall view

Night Ops aroung Hubble

Milky way

Coasting with a view !

Deorbit burn preparation

Action!