X-Plane: Starship

January 15, 2021

Updated engine sound based on the SN9 static fire from yesterday. We now have the 'raptor honk' sound on shut-down as observed on the pad.

January 13, 2021

Updated instruction videos and presentation of the safe flight path on the HUD for the hyperbolic entry. So, no change to the laws of physics or the mission... just better guidance to help you succeed!

January 2, 2021

Improved engine autopilot, making it a bit easier to explore all of Mars. All 6 engines are now available for deceleration if needed, as can happen if you come in high and hot.

December 17, 2020

More tuning of engine-selection and deceleration algorithms to match observed flight test.

December 13, 2020

Now with artificial horizon and control-input display even when HUD is off.

December 11, 2020

Now with engine throttle and shut-down schedules based on observed data from actual flight-test! The future is, um, yesterday.

December 8, 2020

BUG FIXES: Crash-bug fixed when flying multiple missions on Mars at hyperbolic speeds. Rendering-bug fix for erroneous lines on the Mars terrain. NEW STUFF: As per customer request in the reviews: When turned on, the RCS auto-damps out tumbling in space, which is convenient. As per customer request in the reviews: Still show flight path after crash. As per customer request in the reviews: Show/hide HUD option.

December 7, 2020

-Now with a RE-FUEL button whenever you land on Mars! Hey, why not top off when you land? -Now with automatic engine shut-down at low throttle settings so no engine is asked to perform below about 40% throttle, as per the real Raptor engines. This should auto-track a logical engine-shut-down program from the real rocket with reasonable accuracy since the number of engines running is scaled to the current thrust requirement.

December 4, 2020

Tuning of the start-locations and flight control algorithms to give more consistent landing on ALL the start-locations. But here's the thing: For other start locations than Valles Marineris, the air will be thinner! This thinner air will give less aerodynamic deceleration! So beware of the need to engage the landing ROCKETS sooner! As well, for the start-locations other than Valles Marineris, you may need to dive down very close to the surface to pick up as much air density as possible, and use that aero pressure to aim you right back UP again, using gravity during your ballistic trajectory to slow down even MORE!! This may sound crazy, and it sure is... but it is in fact exactly what SpaceX showed when they released their first video on hyperbolic entries! Actually flying it for real in real-time is a bit... hair-raising.

November 30, 2020

App now makes sound even if you have your phone in silent mode, since people want the silent mode to apply to things OTHER THAN the app they are playing at any given moment. ISP varies with air density now, as well as engine type and throttle setting, as in reality. Exhaust smoke turned to white because, well, someone asked for it in the reviews! Altitude now automatically goes from kilometers to meters at low altitude, as requested in the reviews. Pitch and roll plotted numerically on the cockpit display now… a stand-in for an attitude indicator, as requested in the reviews. Delta-V available with fuel on board published in the fuel gage... kind of nice to know: How much can you change your speed with fuel on board? One of those important ‘rocket equation’ things.