Celestia Forums

Recently found celestia while looking for space flight sims. I downloaded program and 2 add-ons (which I can't even FIND in-game). There appear to be NO spacecraft with the original download (that I can find). My question is, when I can find these spacecraft, will I be able to actually FLY them, or will they merely be part of the scenery?

Celestia is not a game. I guess it could be considered a space flight sim, since you can "fly around" in space, but that's not really the point. The main purpose of Celestia is to simulate our universe, and to view that simulation. There are spacecraft add-ons, but they're just scenery. And there are actually a few spacecraft in the original DL (ISS, Galileo, etc.), but they're also just for scenery. I think there's one add-on, which makes it look like you're flying in a spacecraft, but I've never touched it. Like I said, that's not really the point.

Now hide before Fridger finds you.

Bloodworth wrote:My question is, when I can find these spacecraft, will I be able to actually FLY them, or will they merely be part of the scenery?

Ah yeah that depends on what spacecraft. If it's one of the Apollo add-ons for example, try some time in the late 60's. No you won't be able to fly them.

If you're looking for something like that, try Orbiter, a spaceflight simulator.

Bloodworth wrote:Recently found celestia while looking for space flight sims. I downloaded program and 2 add-ons (which I can't even FIND in-game). There appear to be NO spacecraft with the original download (that I can find). My question is, when I can find these spacecraft, will I be able to actually FLY them, or will they merely be part of the scenery?

You could make Star Wars battles with Celestia. See all the scenarios much more fast... (gotolonglat, xyzv, point sprites etc...)

--- edit ---

Im a space sim junkie so maybee I can help. It is possible to fly around in celestia, but its probably not what your after. look in the controls file in the celestia main folder to see what keys do what. Using a joystick and a Nostromo N52, you can somewhat fly around, but theres no way to render an actual ship or a cockpit in front of you, and the joystick controls are alittle buggy.

Like someone else said, celestia is mostly for viewing and teaching. If only those with the programming knowledge here would realize celestias potential! A few modifications and it could be an amazing space sim! It would make learning a heck of alot more interesting If you could explore saturn and its moons from a cockpit!

PlasticMan wrote:It would make learning a heck of alot more interesting If you could explore saturn and its moons from a cockpit!

Duh ! Celestia already have a real cockpit integrated : your computer's screen frame and desktop environment ! Why do people insist so much about having a static picture, which reduces the real estate view ? This is beyond me.

Johaen wrote:
Now hide before Fridger finds you.

BINGO!

See Cham's comment above my post.

Fridger

PlasticMan wrote:A few modifications and it could be an amazing space sim! It would make learning a heck of alot more interesting If you could explore saturn and its moons from a cockpit!

If I may here, WHAT the Hell is your problem?

Celestia is already an amazing space simulator, and it has been since it was first introduced.
And people call me Brain-Dead. If you are into education, check out Frank Gregorio's educational
versions of Celestia. I'm sorry, but I simply do NOT understand how you can say such a thing here. The package
is - by far - the most accurate space simulation you will ever see, and it costs not a penny.

Again, how can you say this? Do you really want a cockpit blocking your view of the Universe?

Thanks, Brain-Dead

BobHegwood wrote:If I may here, WHAT the Hell is your problem?

It is Celestia?s inability to accurately reproduce this experience:


(From Lukr?s Add-On, of course.)

- rthorvald

Another way of looking at it (ahem) is that Celestia's GUI does not meet some people's expectations. Rather than simple unenhanced character displays which occupy minimal visual space, it can be useful for information recognition for the various fields to have unique opaque structures around them. Simulating a more physical display and control interface can also be more friendly in some situations.

selden wrote:Another way of looking at it (ahem) is that Celestia's GUI does not meet some people's expectations. Rather than simple unenhanced character displays which occupy minimal visual space, it can be useful for information recognition for the various fields to have unique opaque structures around them. Simulating a more physical display and control interface can also be more friendly in some situations.

I'm sorry for my outburst, Selden, but my point still stands. Celestia is (by far) the most realistic
space exploration tool in the Universe. If someone wishes to introduce a cockpit for those who want the program's
tremendous views of the Universe to be blocked by some obtrusive spacecraft simulation junk, then they need either
to create one for themselves, or (as was suggested by someone else here to me privately,) they need to go get a
different program.

Sorry, but I still really just do NOT understand this insistence on adding unnecessary junk to my favorite program.

Thanks, Brain-Dead

EDIT:
Click HERE to locate a method to add your cockpit to Celestia.

BobHegwood wrote:Sorry, but I still really just do NOT understand this insistence on adding unnecessary junk to my favorite program.

Well, what is junk to you is not junk to everybody else. While i understand and support 100% the reasons for keeping the interface clean, some people like to use Celestia for other purposes than intended by the devs. I often do it, and a good percentage of the community here does, too. Ref all the scifi add-ons...

But there is room for that, the only silly thing here would be if the devs implemented a "Spaceship interior" viewpoint in the official package. But having the ability to add a custom view as an add-on for particular purposes would be nice. Selden?s intriguing Telescope project is a good example - think of swithcing from looking at that display to making the display the entire interface, then switch back... That would be very neat. I can see a lot of possibilities for that kind of functionality. For example, you can integrate the preferences dialogs and star browsers directly in the main interface that way. Or show the Atlantis takeoff from inside the shuttle in a whole new way, while reducing the polygon count of the model drastically (by reducing much of the flight deck model to 2D graphics).

- rthorvald

rthorvald wrote:Well, what is junk to you is not junk to everybody else.

Yes. Sorry Runar...
See the edit to my post above.

Thanks, Brain-Dead

EDIT:
And, by the way, I am only talking about the official releases of Celestia.

BobHegwood wrote:

PlasticMan wrote:A few modifications and it could be an amazing space sim! It would make learning a heck of alot more interesting If you could explore saturn and its moons from a cockpit!

If I may here, WHAT the Hell is your problem?

Celestia is already an amazing space simulator, and it has been since it was first introduced.
And people call me Brain-Dead. If you are into education, check out Frank Gregorio's educational
versions of Celestia. I'm sorry, but I simply do NOT understand how you can say such a thing here. The package
is - by far - the most accurate space simulation you will ever see, and it costs not a penny.

Again, how can you say this? Do you really want a cockpit blocking your view of the Universe?

Thanks, Brain-Dead

Dang!! Relax dude!! Im not knocking Celestia. Been a fan for quite a while now. When I said space sim i was talking about controls and such. Maybee I should of been more specific. Theres no doubt it is the most accurate space sim out there! All im trying to say is, for a program thats so accurate and detailed, Why limit it? What would be wrong with adding a thing or two? Sure you loose some of your view with a cockpit, but for me and oviously a few others out there, it can really add to the experience of space exploration from the livingroom!

Im full of ideas on things that could enhance the experience, but i think ill save them for now. I dont wanna get my head bit off again! j/k

I want a couple of laser guns too in my custom cockpiss

This would tremendously enrich Celestia! I could shoot some planets down... BOOOM what a pleasure.

Fridger

t00fri wrote:I want a cockpiss

Fridger

LOL !

PlasticMan wrote:Dang!! Relax dude!! Im not knocking Celestia. Been a fan for quite a while now. When I said space sim i was talking about controls and such. Maybee I should of been more specific. Theres no doubt it is the most accurate space sim out there! All im trying to say is, for a program thats so accurate and detailed, Why limit it? What would be wrong with adding a thing or two? Sure you loose some of your view with a cockpit, but for me and oviously a few others out there, it can really add to the experience of space exploration from the livingroom!

Im full of ideas on things that could enhance the experience, but i think ill save them for now. I dont wanna get my head bit off again! j/k

My fault "dude."
I thought you were implying that Celestia is not as realistic as another program somewhere.
I am very sorry for my outburst, as I have already explained previously. Did you have a look at
the post I added later? I believe that you can add a cockpit from that resource.

Thanks and sorry, Brain-Dead

t00fri wrote:I want a couple of laser guns too in my custom cockpiss

This would tremendously enrich Celestia! I could shoot some planets down... BOOOM what a pleasure.

Fridger

Yeah, as in the "Dark Star" movie! That guys moves to destroy instable planets, he, he...

t00fri wrote:I want a couple of laser guns too in my custom cockpiss

This would tremendously enrich Celestia! I could shoot some planets down... BOOOM what a pleasure.

Fridger

Not laser guns. Not powerful enough. You need the Illudium Pu-36 Explosive Space Modulator. It's perfect for blowing up the Earth when it blocks your view of Venus.