From: eyring@CC.UTAH.EDU
Subject: TECH: SGI Space Simulator Version 1.0
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Utah Computer Center
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 12:10:59 GMT



Space Simulator Version 1.0
---------------------------

I just had the chance to play with one of the coolest simulations/
machines I have ever seen.

We have a Crimson SGI (100K$ class) on site and there is GL demo
program called space or the SGI Space Simulator Version 1.0.

It's a simulation of the Solar System and the Milky Way galaxy with
certain artistic liberties.

It's like something you see on Nova or other PBS shows when they
describe planetary orbits, etc.  Anyone who is interested in
space/astronautics can spend several hours playing with this program
exploring the solar system and galaxy.  I highly recommend everyone to
seek out one of these machines and see this program.  I am sure it
comes on the lower class SGI machines also, but the speed of the
Crimson will "knock your socks off".

It starts by placing you in our solar system.  The orbits of the
planets are displayed (green) along with the names.  Standard aircraft
yoke controls are driven by the mouse.  (Rolls are difficult though.)

You can navigate the system by controlling your velocity/direction.
As you approach a planet, you will begin to see the orbit paths of the
moons in blue with names.  You can turn off the orbit paths and object
labels and see graphics of the planets/moons.  As you approach even
closer, the images get clearer and more defined.  Saturn is
spectacular during a flyby, like watching Star Trek, etc.

It appears that satellite Earth color data and planetary color data
have been incorporated into the database.  If you approach, say earth,
the terrain goes through 4 to 5 levels of increased resolution.  With
planets with atmospheres, the sky changes color and the stars fade
from view.  You can position yourself to observe ecplise events.

I am not a space scientist and don't know what the accuracy is of this
simulation, but it was a very fascinating experience.  Very
educational, now I know what the surface of the moon of Pluto looks
like.  It's an image of the software engineer who wrote this program.
:) While visiting other landscapes I half expected to see a billboard
for SGI.

By changing time, you can observe the motion of planets and moons in
their orbits.  Zodiac and star names can be displayed.  You can
explore other star systems and observe other planetary systems.
(Documented fact starts to break down here, I am sure, but it makes it
interesting.)  There is even a Dysan type system called "Ring World".
You can accelerate beyond the local systems out to the bounds of the
galaxy.  Stars are replaced with an image of the galaxy.  Going
further into inter-galactic areas you can easily get lost and not find
your way back.  An autopilot function can return you to the familar
Sol system.

Here are the commands the operate the program:

 MOUSE CONTROLS
    left   : accelerates
    middle : brakes
    right  : pan/rotate toggle
 
    left+right   : face nearest moon
    middle+right : face nearest planet
    left+middle  : face nearest star
    
    (Use these with the autopilot engaged!  Really cool.)

 KEY CONTROLS
 Esc   : quit
 Shift : defeat mouse controls (for menu)
 Ctrl  : disconnect view vector from velocity vector
     a : autopilot
     b : single buffer mode (< 24bits) (left mouse is trigger)
     h : on screen help toggle
     i : moons/orbits toggle
     l : reshade polyplanet every frame
     n : star name toggle
     o : planets/orbits toggle
     q : control panel toggle
     r : decelerates time by 10
     s : stellar system statistics
     t : accelerates time by 10
     v : reverse velocity
     x : text display toggle
     y : time reset
     z : display constellation boundaries
     - : time direction toggle
     up   arrow : increase tesselation level (max: 5)
     down arrow : decrease tesselation level (min: 0)
     PrintScrn  : snap rgb image and quit

 TEXT COLOR CODES
    red   : in interplanetary space
    blue  : in interstellar space
    yellow: in intergalactic space
    green : currently being eclipsed

Satellite Earth color data provided by
TOM VAN SANT and the GEOSPHERE PROJECT
With assistance from NOAA, NASA, EYES ON EARTH
Technical Direction Lloyd van Warren, Leo Blume, Jim Knighton
Source data derived from NOAA/TIROS-N Series Satellites
All rights reserved by Tom Van Sant, Inc.
146 Entrada Drive, Santa Monica, CA 90402
310-459-4342

This program seems to be a sales demo for SGI, but this is
the kind of thing that should be available at all the
planetariums/space museums.  There are simulators like this
on personal computers but the speed and sheer graphics brute
force of the Crimson really shine here.

A very remarkable experience!

Enjoy.

-- 
>Bob Witmer
>Eyring Corp., Flight Simulation Div.
>Salt Lake City, Utah
>eyring@cc.utah.edu