Science fiction has given us a rather romantic idea of space flight. Ships go from point A to point B without trouble, their maneuvers are impressive, and the energy from their reactors never runs out. In real life, just reaching orbit safely is a gigantic nightmare, and once there, every drop of available delta-v must be calculated and used with extreme precision. That's only part of what Solar System Voyager teaches us, a space probe simulator that, to be honest, we can't touch without reading its manual first.
Delta-V Nightmares
One of the most frequent problems in my adventures in Kerbal Space Program is the lack of delta-v. Either I didn't have enough to reach orbit, or I burned too much and my astronaut got stranded there, waiting for a miraculous rescue Mark Watney style. Failures in that game tend to be spectacular and very explosive, but sooner or later we end up understanding what our mistake is.
The Manual Is Not Optional
Now imagine a simulator where you have none of that, except for an interface full of numbers that helps you control a hypothetical probe bound for another planet. That simulator's name is Solar System Voyager, and my first recommendation is very simple: Download the manual before downloading the game.
Installation: A DIY Affair
Why? Because there isn't even a linear installation process. Once you download Solar System Voyager and leave it resting in a temporary folder, you need to download the de430.bsp file from NASA's Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility, and drop a copy into the Data subfolder of the simulator. If you don't do this, the simulator will show an error message and close.
The Mars01 Flight Plan
The manual suggests opening one of the sample flight plans that come with the installation, Mars01. The interface shows the probe's name, destination, the "space base" (in this case, Lagrange L2), and the complete list of maneuvers, which in the current exercise amount to nine. The 3D map is (all things considered) fairly easy to interpret: the green plus sign is our target, the red one is the probe, and both are accompanied by their same-colored orbits.
Propulsion and Maneuvers
The available propulsion methods are three: chemical, electric, and solar sail. The description for each of the maneuvers (start, chemical propulsion transition, electric engine on and off, solar sail on and off, and flight time) is also in the manual, as are the rest of the technical data.
Not for the Faint of Heart
I admit it: Solar System Voyager is... dense. There are no graphics, no stars, no planets. Just a couple of simulated orbits with dots representing planets, and a red cross that acts as the probe. If you're passionate about the more advanced aspects of space flight, this simulator will make you feel at home. Otherwise, you can always get a copy of Space Engine or Orbiter Space Flight Simulator for a more tangible experience.
