Orbital Simulator vs Space Arc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Orbital Simulator
Explore orbital mechanics through interactive simulations and real-time solar system data. Learn about Kepler's Laws, practice orbital maneuvers, and engage in mission objectives. Ideal for students and space enthusiasts.
- Interactive orbital simulations
- Kepler's Laws visualization
- Orbital maneuver practice
- Real-time solar system view
- Customizable orbital parameters
- Detailed educational content
- Mission-based challenges
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Embark on an interactive journey through space with Orbital Simulator: Explore. This comprehensive app is designed to educate and engage users of all levels, from space enthusiasts to students, offering a deep dive into the fascinating world of orbital mechanics. Key Features: Interactive Simulations: Experiment with circular, elliptical, and hyperbolic orbits. See how changing parameters like semi-major axis, eccentricity, and inclination affect trajectories. Kepler’s Laws: Visualize and understand Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion with clear, interactive simulations. Orbital Maneuvers: Practice key maneuvers such as Hohmann transfers, Lambert transfers, and circularizations. Learn how these maneuvers are used in real space missions. Real-Time Solar System: View real-time positions of planets and moons within our solar system. Understand how celestial bodies interact and move over time. Customizable Parameters: Adjust orbital parameters and see the immediate effects on your spacecraft's trajectory. Experiment with different scenarios and learn through hands-on experience. Educational Content: Access detailed explanations, tutorials, and guides designed to enhance your understanding of space mechanics and celestial navigation. Dynamic Environment: Navigate complex gravitational fields in various scenarios, including binary star systems and multi-body interactions. Mission Objectives: Engage in missions that challenge you to establish orbits, perform transfers, and navigate through dynamic environments. Each mission helps you apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. Visual Trajectory Paths: Visualize the path of your spacecraft with real-time trajectory lines. Understand the impact of your maneuvers and improve your navigation skills. Why Choose Orbital Simulator: Explore? For Space Enthusiasts and Students: Whether you’re a budding astronomer or a seasoned space enthusiast, this app offers valuable insights and engaging content for all levels. Educational Tool: Ideal for classroom settings or individual study, providing interactive and immersive learning experiences. User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive controls and clear visuals make it easy to understand complex concepts. Constant Updates: We continuously update the app with new features, scenarios, and educational content to keep your learning experience fresh and relevant. Download Orbital Simulator: Explore now and embark on your journey through the stars. Master the art of orbital mechanics, explore the intricacies of celestial navigation, and experience the wonder of the cosmos. Join a community of space enthusiasts and students who are exploring the universe, one orbit at a time. Ready to become an orbital mechanic? Your adventure starts here!
Space Arc
Explore celestial events with real-time data from NASA and other space agencies. Track satellites, view stunning astronomy pictures, and get personalized alerts for meteor showers, eclipses, and aurora.
- Real-time satellite tracking
- NASA Picture of the Day
- Global launch calendar
- Celestial events calendar
- Aurora alerts
- Smart notifications
- Offline event caching
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Space Arc tells you what's worth stepping outside for tonight — when to go, where to look, and whether the clouds will cooperate. Meteor showers, planets, the ISS, Starlink trains, eclipses, the aurora, full Moons and rocket launches, all worked out for your exact location, with a weather-based Sky Score so you only head out when it's worth it. TONIGHT'S PLAN A simple timeline for tonight: sunset, full darkness, moonrise and moonset, each planet at its best, and every event you can actually see. A "Now" marker shows what's up right now. FIND IT IN THE SKY • AR Sky Finder — hold up your phone and follow the arrow until the target is in the circle. Works for planets, the Moon, meteor-shower radiants and satellites. • Where Do I Look? — a compass guide with the direction and height above the horizon. • Live Track — follow the International Space Station in real time, with a countdown to its next visible pass. EVENTS THAT FIT YOUR NIGHT • Meteor showers — the best hours of the peak night where you are, with realistic hourly rates that account for the radiant's height, twilight and moonlight. • Planets — oppositions, the best evenings and mornings for Mercury and Venus, and a live "Tonight's Sky" card with rise and set times. • Moon — full Moons, supermoons, blue moons and moonless Dark Sky Windows. • Eclipses — whether you'll see each solar and lunar eclipse from your location, and how much of the Sun will be covered. • Satellites — ISS flyovers, Hubble and Tiangong passes, and "Starlink trains" right after launches. • Aurora — NOAA geomagnetic storm alerts, shown only when it's dark and the storm can reach your latitude. • Space weather, rocket launches and near-Earth asteroid flybys. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO • Sky Score — Apple Weather cloud forecasts for the clearest dark hour of each viewing window. • Clear-sky alerts — one optional heads-up before sunset when something special is up and the forecast looks clear. • Reminders and Calendar — get notified before an event or add it to your calendar. Reminders update automatically if a launch is rescheduled. • Home Screen widget — tonight's best event and its Sky Score at a glance. YOUR OBSERVING LOG Tap "I saw it" to save sightings with notes and photos. Earn badges like Meteor Hunter, Station Spotter and Planet Collector, keep a weekly streak, and share good-looking cards of what you saw. EVERY DAY NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day and the latest image from the Hubble Space Telescope. ACCURATE AND PRIVATE Sky positions, twilight, Moon phases, planet events, meteor peaks and satellite orbits are calculated on your phone using established astronomical methods and NASA/NORAD orbital data. Your observing log and photos stay on your device. Data from NASA (APOD, DONKI, NeoWs, JPL Horizons), NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, Launch Library 2, CelesTrak, N2YO, ESA/Hubble and Apple Weather.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Orbital Simulator at fortnightly against Space Arc's every 6 weeks. Orbital Simulator also leads on ratings volume (6 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Orbital Simulator against 5.0 for Space Arc. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Orbital Simulator has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Orbital Simulator ships an update fortnightly, Space Arc every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Orbital Simulator | Space Arc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (6 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 247 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Renzo Macedo | Marc L. Melcher |
Customer experience
Orbital Simulator
Space Arc
In-app purchases
Orbital Simulator
No in-app purchases
Space Arc
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Orbital Simulator free?
Is Space Arc free?
Which has better reviews, Orbital Simulator or Space Arc?
Do Orbital Simulator or Space Arc have ads?
Which is updated more often, Orbital Simulator or Space Arc?
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