Spacecraft are highly complex machines designed to transport humans into space safely, and return them back home again afterwards. Each mission requires hundreds of interdependent systems working in harmony in order to fulfill its task successfully. Virtual reality simulations often use a combination of keyboard shortcuts and mouse clicks on virtual instrument panels to control…
Spacecraft simulators are software applications designed to simulate the movement of a spacecraft in space. Users can calculate orbits and even simulate potential impacts with Earth. KSP is an outstanding simulator that allows the player to learn how to control real NASA spacecraft. Although its career mode and solar systems options may be somewhat limited,…
During the Apollo program, astronauts spent a third of their training time using hardware simulators for training purposes. Simulators allowed crewmembers to not only rehearse and master their mission but also build resilience by understanding where things could potentially go wrong. Flight Director Gene Kranz quickly assumed that when his guidance computer displayed 1201 code,…
