General Question What is possible in orbiter?

[Star sailer]

I want to know about the wide range of experiences that orbiter offers. For a long time Ive just used Orbiter too rendezvous with planets and moons and dock with space stations. I know some addons allow the possibility to stow various payloads in your ship, such as satelites, and even other ships. I know it is possible to build stations from modules. Their are also addons which permit fuel transfer from ship to ship. Orbiter can even simulate solar sails, though I havent tried that out yet. There are also addons which allow you to exit your ship as an astronoat in a mmu. Even ICBMs can be simulated. Are their addons which simulate satelite repair, or repair of stations? So my question is what am I missing out on?

 

[Quick_Nick]

That is a fantastic question and I hope you get some great answers. It seems you've squeezed quite a bit out of Orbiter.
As for existing addons, I would try Space Shuttle Ultra and NASSP 7 for awesome realistic simulation of STS and Apollo flights respectively. Though, those addons might not be 'complete'.
Otherwise, possibilities are virtually limitless if you learn some programming and have some time on your hands.

 

[Cras]

[ame="http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=5484"]HST-Ex[/ame]

this one allows you to deploy the Hubble and then fly the first servicing mission.

 

[ADSWNJ]

Some ideas:

You can set up some wild slingshot trajectories if you like the disciplines of course dynamics.

You can try a deadstick landing into Wideawake in an XR-5.

You can do all the crazy challenges on here - e.g. like blixel's cannonball runs from KSC to Wideawake in 20 mins, or dgatsoulis' so you think you can land (and stop) at Olympus.

You can fly faster than light as vinny5000 has shown .

How about organizing a mission, if you want to get into construction or exploration in a series of flights?

Or drop into the programming realm just beneath the surface of all these fabulous utilities and make a ship or a panel or a HUD.

Thy sky's the limit. (Oops - maybe not here!)

 

[Urwumpe]

You can't experiment with the twin-paradox yet and some other relativistic effects might not be available... but otherwise: The ground is the limit.

You could also program realistic aircraft in Orbiter, but it would mean a lot of work, since Orbiter does not bring much assistance in aerodynamic models (It is more for hypersonic fun)

Travelling to other stars is currently impossible, but that is IMHO no real loss. Who would like to spend the weeks at maximum time acceleration, watching at the same screen all the time. No star moving, except very slow motions.

 

[Quick_Nick]

See flytandem's challenges.

 

[statickid]

Also I didn't see Apollo on your list. AMSO is good. You can also fly the complete Tintin moon mission, if you're a fan.