A 17-year-old developer has shared an impressive open-source project on Hacker News that simulates rocket launches and orbital mechanics. What began as a simple educational tool has evolved into a complex simulation aiming for high realism without the creator having taken formal courses on the subject.
Key Features:
The simulator currently boasts a robust physics engine, including variable gravity and variable atmospheric drag based on the US Standard Atmosphere model from 1976. It supports multi-stage rockets and features a sophisticated closed-loop guidance system with pitch programs that effectively handle orbit insertion between 350km and 600km. Additionally, users can utilize orbital prediction tools to plan and execute thrust maneuvers to alter their orbit.
Developer’s Goal:
The creator is currently seeking feedback from the community to identify missing physics elements or mathematical concepts to improve the simulation’s accuracy further. The code is available for review on GitHub.
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