Hello everyone,
Just wanted to say a quick hello and express my first experiences with ssms and the impact it had on me. I have been interested in space all my life and, when I was a child, was almost fanatical about it. The ending of the shuttle era made me pretty sad, it did not just feel like the closure of an era but also the ending of some of the dreams everyone had at the beginning of the program.
Fast forward to me finding this simulation (three weeks ago now I think). I got here through related suggestions of youtube on space video's. It looked amazing (especially for being from 2007).
So I installed the demo, read through part of the quick start guide (impatient Ill admit), chose easiest difficulty mode and went for it. Finding the buttons was hard at first when you have no clue but easiest difficulty mode really is not that hard, it just takes a little perseverance.
After countdown up I went through the clouds. The audio from MCC is amazing and I looked at the MFD's showing me data I did not yet understand. After the trademark stages of separating the boosters and the tank I found myself after MECO floating in space. In time I figured out I had to load burn targets in the GPC to adjust the attitude of the shuttle. As I watched the RCS kick in from the external view I almost wanted to cry. I am not a flight simmer. But I love this!
Since then I have been with my head in the SCOM during every lunch break. I have invested in a good joystick (secondhand saitek X52 which performs beautifully) and in a TrackIR equivalent setup (Freetrack) for maximum enjoyment.
This is not just a sim for me. Its an experience.. One I have desired to live since childhood. I had goosebumps when I was allowed to test the manual control of the RCS system and had to flip the switch on the control panel to enable the flightstick.
When I was closing the cargo bays as one of the preparations for reentry I of course could not resist to look up through the top windows and was reward by seeing the earth "above" me. Somehow the 2007 graphics really did not bother me at all at that moment.
Getting all excited during the OMS burn for deorbit with the shuttle reversed to orbit trajectory. Seeing the DAP work the RCS through the lights on the control panel while the shuttle is engulfed in plasma. Watching the DAP make S turns through the HIS (fun to speed this part up with T and see it a little accelerated) Taking the stick for HAC intersection, hearing a rumble and realizing that was probably the shuttle going subsonic. Looking at the HDI to see the shuttle speed just below Mach 1 as the music picks up (such a great choice of music and perfectly timed).
Resisting the urge to pull up too early (its not called a flare for nothing) and crashing the shuttle because in all the excitement I forgot that lowering the gear is actually a two step process (arm and lower).
(I landed it perfectly afterwards though)
I love you guys for making this! Thank you.
I actually got a hold of the boxed version and its my prized possession now. (although my friends think im crazy i bought something from 2007) I know ssms2 is coming but I'm probably covered for a looong time. Besides I need the training. I have no idea how active this forum still is but I just wanted to share the experience and, at the very least, say thanks.
Don't you dare stop working on ssms2 in the meantime.
Kind regards,
JW
[edit grammar]
