Realistic space flight simulator iOS

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on evaluating the realism of the space flight simulator found at http://www.space-simulator.com, particularly its adherence to Newtonian mechanics and orbital physics. Users suggest that while the simulator claims to utilize real physics, the accuracy can only be confirmed through practical testing, such as comparing orbital periods and velocities to actual celestial mechanics. Additionally, the complexity of atmospheric drag may introduce approximations that affect realism. Overall, a thorough examination of the simulator's performance in specific scenarios is essential for validation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newtonian mechanics
  • Familiarity with orbital mechanics concepts
  • Basic knowledge of numerical methods in simulations
  • Experience with testing simulations against real-world data
NEXT STEPS
  • Conduct experiments comparing orbital periods and velocities in the simulator to real celestial data
  • Investigate the behavior of the simulator at Lagrangian points to assess accuracy
  • Research atmospheric drag modeling techniques in flight simulations
  • Explore source code access options for deeper analysis of the simulator's physics engine
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for game developers, aerospace engineers, and simulation enthusiasts interested in the accuracy of space flight simulators and their underlying physics models.

devGirl
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Hey everyone,

I've been looking for a space flight simulator to play around with that simulates real physic, or at least as much as possible...and I came across http://www.space-simulator.com the other day.

They say the physics and the orbital mechanics is 'real', but I'm no expert so how can I tell if it really is based on real physics or if it's just clever editing? Any ideas?

Thanks,
 
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Looks a bit like the orbiter.

Concerning orbital mechanics: The real physics (well, Newtonian mechanics) is the easiest way to implement that, so I would assume a realistic physics there.
Atmospheric drag and similar issues are more problematic, you have to use some approximations there to keep calculations simple.
A clever model will be so close to reality that you cannot see the difference unless you get access to the source code.

Ideas how to check orbital mechanics:
- Fly in an orbit around sun far away from planets, compare orbital period, velocity and so on to real orbits (test of two-body mechanics and the used numerical methods in general)
- Fly to a lagrangian point, see if it works like the real points (test of influences of 2 objects at the same time)
 

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