Ultimate Space Shuttle for Orbiter Simulator 2006
We all know that using Orbiter has a large learning curve but getting some of the finest add-ons installed and running can be just as daunting. I put
together this guide to help smooth the way to launching the Space Shuttle realistically using the most popular add-ons availible. This will set up Orbiter to fly the Return to FLight mission
STS-114 but it will also provide the methods to set up other shuttle missions with all the related add-ons.
Begin by installing the following add-ons to your basic Orbiter install.Sound If you don't already have it install the
OrbiterSound add-on.
Open the SoundConfig utility found in the main Orbiter folder to customize your sound settings. Under "Enable/disable sound and set volume"my preferences are everything checked except the
following uncheck: _ Play countdown when landed and small thrust applied
_ Play radar blip when less then 800m from object For add-ons that have there own sound files like the Shuttle Fleet Vehicles I turn off the ATC radio chatter to avoid mixing in
unrelated chatter. Just uncheck the Allow ATC Sound box. Lastly the More Options section is just annoyances, so I uncheck the first two but be sure to check the "Don't warn me about
orbiter sound 2.5" box. Save and exit. Space Shuttle Pad Next install the LC39-EAFB 2006.1
add-on. This will give your Shuttle Fleet a nice representation of the actual shuttle pad to
launch from. It also gives you the landing sites of Edwards Air Force Base and White Sands Space Harbor.
After installing you will notice that this add-on places one STS-112 scenarios in the scenario folder. I recommend that you
clean this up by placing it in it's own folder. That scenario is for the default Atlantis only. Also take notice that the LC39-EAFB 2006.1
add-on uses its own config file to pull in the KSC environment that is seperate
from the default. This has the additional benefit of not loading the default KSC futuristic base. If you build your own scenarios
you will need to use this config ( SolSTS ) rather then the default Sol config. Space Shuttle Download and install the Shuttle Discovery V3.9.1.
Your own custom scenarios may require you to install other Orbiters from the Shuttle Fleet.To install extract the Shuttle Discovery V3.9.1
into Orbiters main folder. Let it replace files if necessary. Then activate the
GPSMFD module. Included with any of the shuttle fleet is the GPCMFD V3.9. This is a Multi-Function Display (MFD) for the
Orbiter Spaceflight Simulator to simulate some of the computer displays from the actual shuttle.To further enhance the Shuttle Fleet, install and activate the re-entry autopilot AutoFCS2. Be careful to read the installation
instructions carefuly. You will notice that there are three AutoFCS to choose from. I reccommend the AutoFCS2 as it updates the AutoFCS to fly a
much nicer entry. Be aware though that it will not work with Orbiter 2006 without some modifications to Orbiter first. Here is what to do. As written by dtinc 155 in the Orbiter Forum.
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First off, you need to modify the Earth.cfg in the main config folder. The Surfbase section needs to read like this:
; === Surface Bases ===
; place additional bases or
; base directories in this list
BEGIN_SURFBASE
DIR Earth\Base
Canaveral: -80.675000 +28.520800 ;80°40'30.00"W 28°31'14.88"N
Edwards: -117.838620 +34.918400 ;117°50'19.03"W 34°55'6.24"N
END_SURFBASE
Then COPY the canaveral.cfg and edwards.cfg from the \config\earth\base directory to the main config directory.
Third modify
both the Canaveral.cfg and the Edwards.cfg file so that the LOCATION line is commented out. (Location is now set by the earth.cfg file) Like so:
BASE-V2.0
Name = Edwards
;Location = -117.838620 +34.918400 ;117°50'19.03"W 34°55'6.24"N
Size = 1000 |
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That works fine for me. Only it will not land you on the runway if choice. So during the approach I manualy fly it in the way the
real Shuttle would do anyways. To fly the remainder in yourself unselect the buttons roll, pitch and yaw.
Some people use the AFCS2p1 because it includes the latest AutoFCS but it crashes my machine. So what else can I say. Space Station
The default ISS is the completed version, to get the configuration of ISS during the STS-114 mission install the Current ISS
Configuration ( ISS11A Scenarios ) add-on. This is the current condition of the ISS on orbit, ISS11A. Based upon a series of
models made by Andrew Farnaby (the artist behind the Project_Alpha ISS that comes with the stock Orbiter installation). The
mesh is rotated such that when in a Prograde hold mode, the ISS is in a LVLH attitude for shuttle approach and dockings. Docking ports are provided for Soyuz and Progress craft.
Just unzip into your Orbiter folder and everything should be in its proper place. The default ISS is called ProjectAlpha_ISS
while this new add-on is called Project_ISS11A. If you have existing scenarios with the default station just replace ProjectAlpha_ISS with Project_ISS11A in those files.
Flying the Space Shuttle Now you should have everything installed listed in this guide. Putting it all together and getting it to work is the real challenge. That's why I have this Space Shuttle Guide with a scenario file here for you to download. Also included in this download is a
summary of main events of a Space Shuttle flight. In addition it includes what actions are needed in Orbiter Space Flight Simulator at the appropriate times.Related Links
Avsim.com, ( all the Addons )
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