Dear all,
I've just joined the forums and saw a brilliant idea from "Monkyman" about the use of using better textures for Spacecraft. While that would be a really nice new feature, with my idea I was wondering if we could put Spacecraft to some use other than just for general appeal.
My idea is similar to the "Light Pulse" feature already used in Universe Sandbox, but instead we have another options feature next to it, which saids "Launch Spacecraft"
This brings up a new options menu where the user/player can select,
- What type of launch vehicle he wishes to launch (Examples: Saturn V or Space Shuttle) Each launch vehicle would have different properties, (Examples: Weight, Speed, Thrust, Fuel)
- Destination, (Optional: Return) the user/player selects what the spacecraft is aiming for and if he/she also selects "Return" once the Spacecraft has reached it's destination it will then return to the planet from which it was launched. (So the user/player could re-create the famous moon landings)
- Launch Button, clicking the "Launch Button" would launch the spacecraft from that planet towards it's destination
Once launched the spacecraft would have it's own sub-menu in the GUI showing the time (days, hours, years etc...) in which it will reach it's target. If the player has selected "return" then it will show how long until it returns to the planet from which it was launched.
It will also show forces which are currently having an effect on the spacecraft (Example: Gravity), Fuel that it is using, how much Thrust it is producing, Speed in which the spacecraft is at and its current x,y,z axis in space.
But,There would be some draw backs to launching a spacecraft, examples are,
- If an explosion happens near by and your spacecraft is too close, there would be a chance that the spacecraft explodes.
- If the spacecraft is hit by a comet/asteroid, the spacecraft would explode.
- If the spacecraft get's too close to another planet there is a chance that the spacecraft will be pulled by the gravitational pull of that planet (depending on the plants gravity force) (Example: If the spacecraft gets close to the planet: Jupiter, which has a high gravity force, the spacecraft may be pulled into that planet, or if it passes by a smaller planet: Neptune, which has a medium gravity force, the spacecraft may be pulled into an orbit around that planet.
Other features which a user/player could do is make a "Custom Spacecraft" in which he/she sets how fast the spacecraft goes, how much fuel it has on board, whether it gets effected by gravitational forces etc...
Well that's my idea for you, and while it may sound very complex and Dan has probably just had a heart attack after reading it.
I don't mean for it to be that way. I just thought my idea would be a great learning tool for people who wish to see how long it would take to get Saturn V from Earth to the Moon, or Earth to Neptune etc..
I hope you like my idea and any feedback good or bad is welcome. Also first post in the forums, hope to be active around here and support Universe Sandbox is as many ways I can, can't get enough of it!
See you around,
Matt
Topic: Better Spacecraft *My Idea* (Read 12656 times)
