Real Life Space Shuttle Nears Retirement, Complex Simulation Ready for Lift Off

Iceberg Interactive, as the publisher, and Simsquared Ltd., as the developer, have announced that they are all set to launch Space Shuttle Mission Simulator: The Collector’s Edition on the PC on Friday, June 4.

The title is described as a hardcore simulation that aims to offer any gamer who is also interested in the space program the chance to actually experience the thrills and stress that affect the humans going beyond the borders of the atmosphere into the deep, dark and chilly outer space.

The developers are promising extreme detail on both the shuttle itself and in the mechanics that govern the videogame. Space Shuttle Mission Simulator: The Collector’s Edition will show off all missions from the first in the ’80’s, when the space program was more of a way of showing off the strategic capabilities of the United States in the Cold War, to the ones that are helping with the build process of the International Space Station and to the final flights that are set to take place this year. The people at Simsquared are even promising to show off secret missions undertaken for the Department of Defense.

The Collector's Edition for Space Shuttle Mission Simulator will include TrueEarth Global Satellite images licensed from TerraMetrics, first person view sequences linked with the space walks, complete communication options with Launch Control and Mission Control. There is also support for multiple monitors and for heat tracking equipment, which bring the experience as close as possible to the simulators real astronauts use to train for missions. There are three difficulty missions designed to allow even more casual fans to enjoy the experience.

Space Shuttle Mission Simulator is an ambitious project, displaying how videogames can take inspiration from the real world, which is becoming more interesting as the space shuttle program in the United States is winding down. One day, it might be the best tool to show off how they operated and how the pushed the boundaries of our knowledge.