Space shuttle Discovery lifted off Saturday evening, beginning a 12-day mission with the first night launch in four years.
Attachment/Enclosure
Attachment/Enclosure
I had planned one day doing a Satscape for Dot Net, but as this platform has yet to materialise on other systems as Microsoft said it would, I've opted for Java instead. I didn't know how to program in Java, so I've started learning, and its basically just like Dot Net, Microsoft have really Ripped them off :-) The advantage of Java of course, is that it runs on about any platform. You write it once and then the same program runs on Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Solaris, Most mobile phones and pocket gadgets, in fact anything that can run Java Applications. The reason for the move is that the current Satscape is written using Visual Basic 6, which is getting old now, has quite a few bugs in the language, and Microsoft are no longer developing it, it makes more sense to use one of the more modern "OOP" languages, and Java now seems the clear winner. Anyway, I've just today started work on Satscape for Java, so don't expect to see it here any day soon, its going to take time, although I will put some early versions on here for you to try out, just to see if they will actually run on other operating systems. Bye for now, Scott Hather
Attachment/Enclosure
Not sure if I've mentioned this free program before, its called 'Orbiter' its a space flight simulator, not a game, a serious program. It really does help if you ARE a rocket scientist. But if like me you are not, theres plenty of documentation and tutorials. Basically this program lets you fly any spacecraft around the solar system and beyond. The default is a near-future delta-flyer, you'll need to practice in that first before moving up to real spacecraft such as the space shuttle. As well as visiting and landing on planets and moons, you can dock with the space station, drop a satellite in orbit, pick up a satellite and bring it back down to earth. Some people like to re-enact missions such as moon landings, or even fictious missions like going to the moon wheel in 2001 and docking. Getting about the solar system uses real physics, not "star wars" physics, you use on-board computers to plot your trajectory to a planet and when to do a burn. Its a steep learning curve, but well worth it. The program is freeware, theres tons of add-ons space craft etc, and a growing community of amateurs involved. You can go to http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/ to download it. Also, I've attached a video podcast enclosure to this feed, just click the enclosure link to view this video, its me demonstrating what you can do with this wonderful program.
Attachment/Enclosure