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Orbiter 2006 Edition Release Change Log=======================================This log contains a list of changes between Orbiter version 031105 andversion 060424 (Orbiter Edition 2006), in reverse chronological order.

Change log 060504 -> 060929 (2006-P1 Edition)---------------------------------------------* Bug fix: Corrected LPAD2 night light rendering artefacts (texture wrap)* New landing pad type "LPAD2A" uses different texture layout. Used at

Canaveral base.* Bug fix: "Free" user-controlled spacecraft in a playback now allow mouse

interaction in panels and VCs.* Recorder: Vessel attachment/detachment events are now written and read to/from

ATC streams.* Bug fix: State vectors of attached (passive) vessels were sometimes not

correctly updated.* Bug fix: glass cockpit buttons no longer mouse-sensitive in external view.* Bug fix: Vessel fast-switching (Ctrl-F3) caused CTD when previous focus

vessel had been deleted.* Vessel selection dialog (F3) now immediately updates its list when vessels

are created or deleted.* Replaced Iapetus textures with Rolf's new version.* MFD interface: Keyboard shortcuts for selecting MFD modes from mode list

(via Shift-F1) have been enabled again. Selection by highlighting has been

removed. Direct mode selection from within a mode remains disabled.* Bug fix: Align Plane MFD: target plane defined by custom elements should nowwork again.

* Documentation: oapiSetTexture added to API Reference manual.* API: new function oapiLoadTexture* DG: is skinnable now. A "blue" variant is included as an example* Iapetus: Steve Albers' map now 180deg longitude-shifted applied to L6 and L7

textures.* Base config files: Comment lines (beginning with ';') are now allowed at the

beginning of the file (before the BASE-V2.0 tag).* Bug fix: problem with orbit stabilisation for docked vessels when crossing SOI

boundaries.* Bug fix: 1-frame flicker during mesh reorganisation (e.g. Atlantis SRB and

ET separation)* Bug fix: animation setting for meshes with index >= 1 was not recognised aftermesh rearrangement.

* Longitude-corrected Iapetus textures included* Preliminarily replaced cloud microtexture with one based on McWgogs' addon

(reduced to 256x256 and converted to DXT3) -> reduced file size from 1MB to 65kB* API: new functions

DelMeshShiftMeshShiftMeshesShiftCG

* Atlantis: code updated to take advantage of selective mesh deletion.

* Carina: mesh no longer emissive.* Lighting model: direct (diffuse) component toned down in atmosphere.* Vessel config files: Option "GravityGradientDamping" added.* Bug fix: undefined state of vessels docked throughout a playback session.* Bug fix: oapiOpenMFD (MFD_NONE, ...) now closes the MFD.* Bug fix: oapiGetMFDMode crashing when called for an external MFD window.* Bug fix: Joysticks other than first in the list should now be recognised.* Bug fix: reset scaling parameters to fix "black hole in Saturn" problem.* Bug fix: transition between dynamic/stabilised update mode could cause

deterioration of orbit parameters for docked vessels.

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* Upgraded TransX to v3.10, including additional documentation and newscenarios in Scenarios/Navigation/TransXNOTE: Requires deletion of previous scenarios in that folder.

* Dynamic state propagation: Added new integrator methods. Supported are nowRunge-Kutta methods RK2, RK4, RK5, RK6, RK7, RK8 and symplectic methodsSY2, SY4, SY6, SY8.

* Launchpad: new "Extra" tab for advanced or less often used parameters.* Integrators are now user-selectable from the Extra/Dynamic propagators option.

Up to 5 integrator schemes for different step interval ranges can be defined.* Symplectic integrators are now used by default.* New document Doc/Technotes/dynamics.pdf contains details of integrators used

in orbiter.* Launchpad: Orbit stabilisation parameters now moved to "Extra" tab.* DG: "blue" version uses Roger's cleaned-up textures.* API: new class LaunchpadItem for defining custom items in the Launchpad

"Extra" list.* API: new functions

oapiRegisterLaunchpadItemoapiUnregisterLaunchpadItemoapiOpenFileoapiCloseFileoapiWriteItem_stringoapiWriteItem_intoapiWriteItem_float

oapiWriteItem_vec* SDK: new sample LaunchpadParamTemplate to demonstrate usage of custom paramfeature

* Bug fix: CTD when deleting a docking HUD target referenced by the "legacymethod" (Ctrl-Alt-R).

* Bug fix: Mars atmosphere discontinuity at 4km.* State integrators: Angular states (orientation, angular velocity) are now

included in the integrators. Appear to work ok with RK methods, but may beproblematic with SY methods. RK integrators are now used by default.

* During "stabilised" propagation of linear state, a RK4 method is used topropagate the angular state. The required position parameter is obtained froma 2-body orbit propagation.

* Bug fix: CTD when module calls ShiftCentreOfMass during ovcLoadState

* Included Chode's ephemeris modules for Phobos, Deimos, Uranus' moons andTriton.* Scenario editor: Vessel types can now provide BMP pictures to be displayed

on the vessel creation page. A few of the standard vessels do this already.Requires "ImageBmp" entry in the vessel config file.

* Scenario editor: Vessel config files can now be placed in subfolders belowConfig\Vessels. The vessel type list in the Vessel creation page has beenreplaced with a tree control that allows descending into subfolders.

* Scenario editor: vessel types with "EditorCreate=FALSE" tag in their configfiles are not displayed in the vessel creation type list, even if theylocated under the Config\Vessels directory.

* Atlantis: Started on code modifications for Atlantis module to adapt to themodel by "preacher_mg". This includes re-indexing of animation groups, control

surface animation and VC HUD.* Atlantis: A new dialog for "payload bay operations" (operating bay doors andradiators) has been added (available via Ctrl-Space). This follows the layoutand procedures of panel R13L to make future integration into VC code easier.

* State integration: angular states are now checked against kinetic energydifference, to avoid instabilities. This code is copied over from the 2005edition and not very satisfactory, but might avoid exposion of angularvelocity.

* Error log: missing mesh file names are now displayed.* Bug fix: CTD with docked assemblies.

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* API: Bug fix: CTD in VESSEL::AddMesh after VESSEL::DelMesh* API: VESSEL::DelMesh behaviour changed. Indices of remaining meshes

no longer change. Instead, the index of the deleted mesh becomes invalid.* API: new functions VESSEL::InsertMesh (versions 1 and 2)* API: New function oapiSetVCNeighbours* Multiple VC positions are now supported. Switching with Ctrl-arrow keys

(same method as for 2D panels)* Example: MG_Atlantis (pilot, co-pilot, payload bay view)* Bug fix: Atlantis: view stuck in backward direction when switching from

payload VC position to glass cockpit (F8)* Bug fix: CTD when multiple vessels are deleted within a single frame* Bug fix: parent vessel not recognizing deletion of attached vessel* Added scenario Navigation\Special orbits\Moliniya orbit.scn* API: new function VESSEL::SetCameraMovement* Atlantis: New VC mesh, commander HUD and MFD displays are now mirrored

on the pilot's side. Rear VC position has new movement encoding (lookingout of left or right payload bay window, out of top window, or bendingtowards R13L).

* Ku-band operation now implemented in dialog.* DG: now supports additional VC positions for passenger views (but may requrie

editing of VC mesh to provide missing surfaces, e.g. seat backs)* DG: documentation moved from Orbiter.pdf to separate DeltaGlider.pdf.* API: new function: DelAnimation* API: DelMesh and ClearMeshes now have optional parameters to specify if

animations should be retained. This should fix problems with inconsistentbehaviour with previous versions.* De-coupled angular from linear state vector updates so that separate

integration rules can be used as required. Intermediate object positions(required for gravity gradient torque calculation) are obtained either bylinear interpolation (for small steps) or by Kepler orbit propagation.

* Cross-axis terms in the integration of Euler's equation are suppressedwhenever a time step leads to an object rotation of more than pi. This shouldincrease the stability of rotations at high time acceleration (at the costof physical accuracy)

* Bug fix: Main and hover acceleration indicators in generic cockpit view nowtake into account reduction of Isp in atmosphere, and non-parallel enginethrust vectors.

* Revised angular state updates. Step subdivisions are now supported. At veryhigh angular steps, torque is suppressed to improve stability (in additionto the suppression of the cross-axis terms).

* Bug fix: Missing specular reflection on some planet surface tiles at lowresolutions.

* Added dialog for selecting integrators and parameters for angular statepropagation (under 'Extra' tab). Default max. subsampling steps set to 100.

* Added: Ability to propagate simulation by fixed delta t per frame (underdebug options in Extra tab).

* Increased max. stack size of orbiter executable to 4MB.* MFD interface: new default key Shift-F2 (switch button page without invoking

the button menu display)* Atlantis: Activated MFD buttons. Modified mesh to display the button labels

on the lower edge of the screen area. 6th button ("PG") is linked to Shift-F2.If this button is pressed for longer than 1.5 seconds, it invokes Shift-F1instead (MFD mode selection). Commander and pilot instruments are currentlysynchronised.

* Bug fix: reading and writing scenario parameters for MFDs with index >= 3.* Bug fix: Atlantis ET and SRBs visible through payload bay.* Bug fix: Atlantis VC buttons not clickable in launch configuration.* Mesh not found errors: downgraded fatal errors (program termination) to

warning messages in orbiter.log, to avoid exits on empty mesh file namesapparently generated by spacecraft3.dll. Something's amiss here ...

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* Reworked perturbation integration for stabilised orbit calculation.Subsampling of time steps is now supported. Subsampling parameters andcutoff for nonspherical gravity can now be user-defined (via OrbitStabilisation item on Extra tab).

* DG: Added plugin "DGConfigurator". This adds an item to the Extra tab whichallows global configuration for the DG. Currently only supports selectionof texture resolution.

* DG: New "DG configurator" plugin for DG texture resolution selection. Appearsin Extra tab. Works by renaming DG highres texture directory.

* Atlantis: New "Atlantis configurator" pluging for Atlantis texture and meshresolution selection. Appears in Extra tab. Works by renaming directories andmeshes.

* Directory structure: new directory "Modules\Startup". Similar to"Modules\Plugin", but any plugins in this directory are always loaded, anddon't appear in the lists of the Launchpad Modules tab. Allows addingessential plugins without cluttering the modules list. Addons should use thiswith care. Don't put any addons here which eat CPU cycles during thesimulation!

* New simulation session shutdown options (Extra tab, under Debugging options):respawn orbiter process, terminate orbiter. Both bypass memory deallocation,as suggested by Doug, and should be much faster. Default is respawn.Command line option '-x' enforces termination regardless of Launchpad setting.

* Incorporated Doug's bug fix for DG flow rate indicators into sources.* Activated talkbacks on VC panel R13L.

* TrackIR: Preliminary support via plugin (only cockpit camera supported yet).* New camera API extensions to simplify camera control via external modules.* Doc: Updated Atlantis.pdf and Orbiter.pdf to reflect new Atlantis features.* Atlantis: bug fix which caused grappled objects to be displaced at simulation

start.* Atlantis: VC MFDs can now be operated during playbacks.* API: Changed oapiSetVCNeighbours to oapiVCSetNeighbours.* Bug fix: cleaned up fast shutdown code. MapMFD now doesn't cause CTD.* Launchpad: "Sun glare" option disabled for the time being.* Base.cfg: generic texture file names can now contain subdirectories (relative

to Textures or Textures2). The path must also be present in all references tothem from individual base config files.

* TrackIR module: now supports external track camera view.

* DG: Added Oliver's VC mesh upgrade for missing surfaces and pilot head.* TrackIR module: added preliminary ground observer support (needs a resetfunction)

* Bug fix: beaconarray base elements not rendered.* DG: bug fix: top hatch always closed on loading.* Bug fix: new vessels rendered 1 frame late after creation (caused flicker

during staging operations)* Playback: New tag "CAMERA PRESET x" in atc stream.* API: Methods for displaying onscreen text similar to playback annotation.* "Credits" and "contributions" buttons on launchpad "About" tab now combined and

generated directly from the Doc\Credit.pdf sources.

Change log 050216 -> 060504 (2006 Edition)------------------------------------------* Surface MFD: labels and 5-deg. ticks added to pitch ladder.* DG: Effect of elevator trim has been tripled. Control surface authority

increased. Tank 2 capacity (scramjet fuel) reduced to 2500 kg.* DG: Slope/range indicator replaced with wing load indicator.* DG: Digital indicator for propellant mass added.* Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune: replaced textures with VF2_Rolf's

level 6 textures and config mods, including atmospheric parameters.

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* API: new functions:EditAirfoilCreateControlSurface2DelControlSurfaceClearControlSurfaceDefinitionsGetDamageModelGetWeightVectorGetLiftVectorGetDragVectorGetThrustVectorGetTransponderGetIDSSetTransponderChannelSetIDSChannelGetNavSourceoapiGetNavTypeoapiGetNavDescroapiObjectVisualPtroapiRand

* DG: Damage model: airframe failure due to wing loading.* "Planetarium" dialog replaced with "Visual helpers" dialog. Now includes

a tab for setting display parameters for body forces and coordinate axes.* Attached vessels now update their ground-relative parameters (e.g.

airspeed, etc.)

* Started on HTML-based version of the API reference (in Orbitersdk/html)* API: Extended interface for controlling NAV radio transmitters/receivers.* Saturn moons controlled by TASS1.7 perturbation solutions:

Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, Iapetus* Preliminary configs and textures added for new moons Hyperion and Iapetus* New logical keys defined in keymap.cfg: RCSEnable and RCSMode

(delete keymap.cfg to generate a new one with all keys listed)* Added date converter to Orbitersdk\utils* New interface for linking surface bases to planets. Orbiter can now scan

directories for base config files without explicit reference in theplanet config file. Multiple search directories and conditional loading(subject to scenario time and context) are supported. See Section 21.4 inOrbiter.pdf for details.

The old format is still supported, but some format changes are required tomake base config files work under the new format (in particular, baselocation must be defined in the base config file).

* Support for 2-point mass distribution in vessels, for providing thepossibility of attitude-locked orbits. See Doc/Technotes/distmass.pdf forimplementation details. Currently implemented by DG, Shuttle-A, Atlantis.

* API: new functions SetMassDistribution, GetMassDistribution* Bug fix: vessel jump when crossing planet SOI with stabilisation enabled.* API: new functions:

VESSEL::GetElements (extended version)VESSEL::SetElementsoapiGetPauseoapiSetPause

oapiMeshMaterialCountoapiMeshMaterial* Started on scenario editor plugin. Allows in-game creation, editing and

deleting of vessels.* Stabilisation now always off during ground contact.* Bug fix: marker configuration buttons displaced in Planetarium dialog.* API: fixed broken methods:

VESSEL::GetAttitudeRotLevelVESSEL::GetAttitudeLinLevel

* New config directory layout: vessel configuration files should now be placed

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in Config\Vessels, to make them appear in the vessel type list of the editor.* Atlantis: added clbkSetStateEx method to allow in-game creation.* MeshDebug: some bug fixes. Original state now restored when dialog is closed.

Selected group is now blinking.* API: new functions:

opcPauseoapiSaveScenario

* Scenario editor: setting orbital elements now also works for stabilisedorbits

* Scenario editor: can now save scenarios* Scenario editor: code extensively reworked. Editor tabs are now represented

by separate class instances for a cleaner implementation.* Scenario editor: now supports editing of orientation and angular velocity.

Editor should now work with superstructures.* "System" name in saved scenarios is now taken from solar system configuration

file name instead of the "Name" entry, to avoid problems if the names don'tmatch.

* Bug fix: Vessel config files in the Config directory should now work again.* Orbiter now terminates if a vessel config file can't be found in Config or

Config\Vessels (instead of generating a zero-size file).* Scenario editor: started on API for vessel-specific plugin pages.* Bug fix: calculation of weight vector for landed vessels* Bug fix: potential division by zero during force vector rendering* Scenario editor: more plugin pages for DG.

* DG: html help sources now included in the SDK under "Help" subdirectory.* Bug fix: scenario editor could CTD after unloading custom vessel pages.* API: new function VESSEL::Dock* Bug fix: jump in supervessel position when docking/undocking during orbit

stabilisation* Earth.cfg: changed J5 coefficient from 0.13e-6 to -0.15e-6* Scenario editor: now supports docking/undocking management.* Bug fix: CTD when deleting an IDS transmitter with EnableIDS(...,FALSE) while

a vessel MFD is tuned to that transmitter.* Generic cockpit view: MFDs now display mouse-activated buttons* Launchpad dialog: MFD size in generic cockpit can be adjusted* Bug fix: opening an input or selection box no longer blocks mouse events.

Instead, mouse button events will close any open input boxes.

* Bug fix: Map MFD: zoom state not restored in generic cockpit mode* MFD behaviour change: Shift-Esc toggles MFDs on/off and replaces Shift-Q.Shift-key combinations can no longer be used to directly switch to a differentMFD mode. Instead:- Use "SEL" button (Shift-F1) to page through mode pages.- Select a mode by button, or press Shift-, and Shift-. to highlight a mode,

and press Shift-Enter to select.This should avoid conflicts between MFD modes using the same selection button.Within each mode, the Shift-key combinations work as usual. Documentation hasbeen updated.

* Docking MFD: If a vessel has more than one docking port, an additional buttonis displayed to allow selection of the port.

* Tidal effect of distributed vessel masses is now implemented for composite

(docked) structures. This means that docked assemblies experience tidal forceseven if the individual components do not. See Doc\Technotes\distmass.pdf forimplementation details. This will probably require an explicit attitudestabilisation method for space stations to keep them stable during docking.

"DCK" is displayed which allows to select a different docking port on the ownvessel, relative to which target data are displayed.

* API: new function oapiRefreshMFDButtons* "PWR" buttons for disabled MFDs in generic cockpit mode now only visible if

HUD is displayed.

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* API: new plugin callback functions opcSaveState, opcLoadState to allow pluginsto save/load their state to/from a scenario file. (***ADD DOCUMENTATION***)

* Scenario editor: if the vessel currently being edited is deleted, the editorjumps back to the main page (to avoid CTD due to reference of invalid vesselhandle)

* Scenario editor: fixed bug which caused CTD when deleting a vessel whilescneditor module is active but not open.

* Orbiter can now be lauched directly into a scenario from the command line,bypassing the Launchpad dialog. Syntax isorbiter -s ""where is the name of the scenario file, with path relative toScenarios folder, and omitting the .scn ending. Double quotes are required.

* API: new function oapiIsVessel* Changed scaling factors for ringed planets to reduce artefacts at low

z-buffer setting. Needs testing!* vessel clip radius can now be set independent of the "size" parameter.

New API functions:VESSEL::GetClipRadiusVESSEL::SetClipRadiusoapiOpenDialogExoapiAddTitleButton

* API: new class ExternMFD: supports display of MFDs in plugins* New plugin module: ExtMFD: opens an MFD in a separate window (module allows

multiple window instances by using oapiOpenDialogEx, and uses the new title

button mechanism)* API: new function VESSEL::CreateAirfoil3 which uses a AirfoilCoeffFuncExcallback function that contains additional parameters (VESSEL instance anduser-defined pointer)

* Bug fix: Some problems fixed with nonstandard default cockpit camera direction(invoked with SetCameraDefaultDirection). The angles in oapiSetCockpitDir noware relative to the default direction, as advertised.

* API: new function VESSEL::SetCameraDefaultDirection (version 2)This allows not only to define the default camera direction, but also thetilt of the camera around that direction.

* Bug fix: ExternMFD: if the vessel referenced by a sticky MFD is deleted, theMFD now automatically switches to the new focus object.

* Gravity field gradient-induced torque: is now calculated directly from the

vessel's principal moments of inertia. Point mass distribution is no longerrequired.* API: removed functions

VESSEL::GetMassDistributionVESSEL::SetMassDistribution

* API: added functionsVESSEL::SetGravityGradientDampingVESSEL::GetGravityGradientDamping

* Scenario editor documentation is now in a separate PDF. This also includes adeveloper section.

* External MFD documentation added to Orbiter.pdf.* Bug fix: calculation of max. group thrust after max. thrust of one of the group

thusters is modified.* Bug fix: polar component of nonspherical gravitational potential field wasscaled incorrectly (in particular at high latitudes), leading e.g. to under-estimation of the propagation of the line of nodes.

* Added Doc\Technotes\gravity.pdf* Added Scenarios\Navigation\Special orbits. This includes also a sun-synchronous

orbit which demonstrates the nonspherical gravity bug fix.* Bug fix: VOR/VTOL MFD mode: now remembers NAV receiver number* Bug fix: scenario editor: sun no longer appears in landing target list.

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* Bug fix: incorrect position of detached child vessels after playback.* API: new function: oapiGetObjectType* Using oapiOpenDialog before the simulation is started _may_ work now (needs

more testing). But use caution: most API functions will be invalid before therender window is opened).

* Ingame help is now available for all built-in MFD modes.* Extensive revision of planetary sphere patch render engine. Levels 1-7 are

mostly unaffected, but from level 8 the new engine kicks in.Main points:- mesh resolution independent of available patch texture resolution. When the

camera is sufficiently close, a patch is rendered at resolution 9 even ifthe corresponding texture is only resolution 8.

- resolution 9 (and eventually beyond) are only available if the globaltexture goes up to resolution 8. This is different from previous behaviourwhere local res 9 areas could be rendered on top of a lower-resolutionglobal texture. (This is because res 8 textures are the last-resortfallback textures for any patch that doesn't have higher-resolutiontextures).

- The "black-coast" syndrom of previous versions has been removed.- The specular mask textures are now implemented differently. They must now

be white over specular (water) areas and black over diffuse (land) areas.As a result, the _lmask.tex texture files are no longer valid.

- Level 9 partial land textures are no longer rendered on top of a lower-level specular texture. They now have their own level-9 land masks

(_tile_lmask.tex). Also, the format of the texture descriptionfiles (_tile_bin) files has changed. Old ones are no longer valid.- Unlike previous versions, "MaxPatchResolution = 9" in the planet config

file is now required to enable the highest resolution level.- Planet night lights haven't yet been incorporated into the new mechanism,

and are disabled for now.* New version of pltex which incorporates the changes in planetary texture

formats. This now allows to create directly level-9 texture files. TheTileManager application is obsolete.

* Re-worked the textures for Earth from scratch, starting from blue-marbletextures, with the following global processing steps:- brightened the blue channel (to incorporate atmospheric effects)- brightened overall

- water areas only: desaturated and shifted colour balance away from red- sharpened* Experimental: introduced a "specular ripple" option in the Launchpad dialog,

so that water surfaces no longer appear "polished". May need more work.* Changed clipping near-plane calculation: nearplane is now guaranteed to be closer

than the closet object (including vessel clip radius) down to limit of 2.5m.* Bug fix: erraneous T&L vertex buffer flag for planet resolutions 1-4.* Pltex: rewritten global planet surface generator for levels 1-8. (surface and

specular mask can now be generated in a single pass).* Planets now support resolution levels up to 10. Global level-10 coverage

for Earth (excluding water areas) has is provided.* Reorganised Earth textures:

- level 1-8 textures have been moved from Textures2 to Textures (replacing theold 1-7 textures, since these days all systems should at least support level8).

- The local level 9 map for Florida in Textures has been removed but may bereplaced with a similar hires local map later.

- Textures2 contains the global level 9-10 maps (big!)* pltex has been modified to process bitmaps with less than global coverage.* pltex has now an option to merge hires texture patches, so they can be

processed in small chunks and merged into the final texture file. This willalso become important later when addons provide local hires areas, because

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users will have to merge them into their texture files (therefore pltex willbe moved from Orbitersdk into the main Orbiter directory).

* pltex can now process levels 1-8 with land-water masks in a single run.* Bug fix: Close and help buttons not visible in dialogs when accessed from the

main menu. Some more dialogs have now been converted, and more help pages added.* Modified Textures\cloud1.dds with higher spatial frequency components for cloud

microstructure to compensate for smaller texture coordinate range.* Planet rendering: distant patches are now rendered at lower resolution for

improved performance. This currently only affects level 10. The distance at which

orbiter switches to a lower resolution can be customised via thePlanetHipatchAperture entry in Orbiter.cfg (-0.5-1).

* New splash screen.* Message box during clean-up after a simulation session.* Reduced default value for PlanetHipatchAperture to 0.1.* Max. planet resolution is now limited during fast camera movement (e.g. in low

orbit at high time acceleration) to reduce stutter caused by texture loading.* Updated config files for all moons not controlled by perturbation modules from

Tony's stockmoons.zip.* Updated pltex: high-resolution patches can now be smaller than a single level-8

patch.

* Max. resolution level can now be set in Launchpad dialog (visual effects tab).* New utility Orbitersdk\utils\meshc.exe: extracts mesh parameters into a headerfile that can be included in a vessel project to allow use of named mesh group

sinstead of referring to group indices. Makes it easier to keep track of meshgroups for animation etc.

* Mesh file format: mesh groups now support the LABEL tag (must be placed beforethe GEOM tag of the group). Doesn't affect the mesh directly, but is scanned b

ymeshc to associate group names with indices.

* Night lights now supported in resolution levels 1-10.* Night lights are stored in _lmask.tex together with the water masks, to

save space (lights are stored in the RGB channels, water masks in the alphachannel)* The _lights.tex files previously used for storing night lights are now

obsolete.* The contents file format _lmask.bin has been updated to contain night

lights information, but the old format is still supported.* pltex has been updated for night lights support.* The highres tiles listed in a base's surftile list can now carry alpha

information. KSC tiles have now cut away the ocean portion, to blend in betterwith the surrounding surface.

* Align planet MFD:- bug fix: "time to node" values were incorrect for non-circular orbits.- Angles to ascending and descending nodes are now always displayed positive w

ith range 0-360.- The estimated burn times both at AN and DN are now displayed.

* Some updates to documentation and help files.* pltex, dxtex and date utilities have been moved from Orbitersdk\utils to utils,

because they are now regarded as user utilities, rather than developer utilities.* Light beacons on vessels now supported. Implemented for DG (activate via

overhead panel or Ctrl-Space).

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* Vessel visibility distance is now independent of screen resolution. At smallapparent sizes, vessels are represented by spots. Visibility limit can be setwith VESSEL::SetVisibilityLimit.

* API: new functionsVESSEL::SetVisibilityLimitVESSEL::SetAlbedoRGBVESSEL::AddBeaconVESSEL::DelBeaconVESSEL::ClearBeacons

* Vessel illumination is now adjusted when going through a planet shadow.Examples in scenario folder "2006 Edition/Visual effects".

* higher vessel ambient light levels when within atmospheric layers.* "Close down" dialog is now integrated into the Launchpad.* Bug fix: a vessel now broadcasts the disappearance of its transponder to all

other vessels before being deleted.* DG: bug fix: using un-initialised exmesh handles.* VC meshes are now included in the lighting modifications caused by planet

shadowing.* The spectral dispersion during sunrise/set is now less pronounced, and the

green component has been reduced.* default global ambient level reduced to 12* Bug fix: vessel "blob representation" is now affected by planet shadows.* Revised lighting algorithm for vessels and surface bases. Both now use the

same strategy. Fixed a problem that might have created erraneous lighting

direction.* Surface base objects now use the same shadow algorithm as vessels and canmake use of stencil buffers.

* With stencil buffer enabled, shadows now fade in and out gradually at dawn/dusk.

Also, shadow darkness now depends on atmospheric density (can be overwrittenwith "ShadowDepth" parameter in planet config files).

* Night textures on stock buildings are now coming on earlier.* Flight recorder: on-screen notes can now be displayed during playback by

inserting NOTE tags into the articulation (.atc) stream of the flight record.Some basic formatting options are available. See ASTOS extensions.pdf fordetails. For an example, check the Glider launch 1 playback scenario.

* Flight recorder: playback can now be terminated with Ctrl-C before the end of

thedata stream is reached.* Flight recorder: a previous recording is now only overwritten after user

confirmation.* Vessel beacons: fixed problem with black borders against vessel exhaust.* API: new function VESSEL::GetFlightStatus* Scenario editor: "State vector" and "Location" pages now contain "copy state

from" options to copy a freeflight or landed state from a different vessel.* Flight recorder: undock events are now written to and read from the articulation

stream. This should fix the bug of vessels undocked during recording snappingback together after end of replay.

* Flight recorder: bug fix: angular velocity is now continually updated and no

longer arbitrarily reset to zero at the end of the replay.* Bug fix: incorrect orientation on launch of vessels on the ground of vesselswhose local z-axis points up ("tailsitters").

* Added MESHVIS_EXTPASS mesh visibility modifier flag (can be used in conjuctionwith any other visibility modes to force a mesh to be rendered during theexternal pass, even if seen from cockpit view. (see SetMeshVisibilityModedocumentation for details).

* API: new function: oapiGetCelbodyInterface* Fixed broken VC display* Flight recorder: RCS, ADC and navmode changes are now written and read to/from

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the atc stream. These parameters can no longer be changed manually duringplayback. Manual thruster activation/deactivation is now disabled duringplayback.

* Flight recorder/playback can now be operated via dialog (Ctrl-F5)* Recording scenario name can now be user-defined.* Inflight notes can be switched off.* Flight recorder: time acceleration events are now recorded and can be used during

playback.* Flight recorder: landing and takeoff events now recorded in atc stream.

Positioning bug fixed for landed vehicles during playback.* Flight recorder: bugs during change of reference planet fixed.* DG: "Hold Alt" navmode now has a button in 2D panel view.* Navmodes: New rule implemented: "killrot" no longer cancels "hlevel" mode.* Flight recorder: attitude data can now be saved in ecliptic or local horizon

frame.* Docking HUD: Now remembers NAV receiver or target.* Orbit HUD: Now remembers reference object.* Orbit MFD: New button "HUD" to copy reference object from MFD to HUD.* Docking MFD: New button "HUD" to copy target data from MFD to HUD.* Created "Lunar transfer" playback scenario to demonstrate the new recorder

features.* Flight recorder: format for .att and .pos data streams has been changed. The

redundant MJD entries (1st column) have been removed. A utility (Utils\fdatamo

d) has been added temporarily to modify existing recordings to the new format.This needs to be applied to all .att and .pos files of a recording. Usage:fdatamod generates .mod. Remove the old data file and rename the new one byremoving the .mod extension.Note: att data streams that contain 'FRM HORIZON' entries also must define areference body with a REF entry, e.g. 'REF Earth'.

* MFDs: More selections can be made from lists instead of typing object names.* Flight recorder: TACC tags can now have an optional second parameter defininga

delay value for non-instantaneous changes of time acceleration.* Transfer MFD: The parameter adjusted while pressing DV- or DV+, and the parame

terheld constant while pressing EJ- or EJ+, is now Delta-V instead of SMa. SMa isnow locked only if no manual adjustment is occurring.

* Transfer MFD: Now supports hyperbolic transfer orbits (e>1).* Bug fix: problem with surface tiles not rendering occasionally when low

resolution level was requested.* DG: Bug fix: removed white tears in transparent section of overhead panel.* Bug fix: Vessels with MESHVIS_ALWAYS tags erraneously rendered in internal pass.* Generic cockpit: Now displays mouse-activated navmode button in the bottom centre

of the display.* API: new functions

oapiSetDefNavDisplayoapiSetDefRCSDisplayoapiSetSimMJDoapiGetSysMJD

* Nicer inline selection menus.* Bug fix: MFD and navmode buttons in generic cockpit view, and Surface MFD are

now restored after Alt-Tab.* Align planes MFD: Now allows user-defined orbit reference.* ISS: increased emissive colour of docking ports.* Generic cockpit: RCS mode indicators are now clickable buttons.

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* Scenario editor: now has an additional page for setting simulation time.* Mars map: standard distribution now contains Seth's version up to level 8

globally and level 10 around Olympus Mons. Credits added.* Atlantis: Implemented Barrick's code bug patches.* Doc: ASTOS extensions document has been updated.* Shuttle-A: Animations, pod settings and payload events are now written/read

to and from playback streams.* Bug fix: MFD displays not updated when backstepping in time.* Bug fix: MFD mode page left behind when selecting MFD mode at T

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* Documentation: Flight recorder section in Orbiter.pdf has been updated.* Triton: Rolf's L6 texture now included in base package (Textures directory)* Bug fix: problem with tilt of some vertical launchers during takeoff.* Limited vessel angular velocity to 100 rad/s to avoid overflow during time

acceleration. This does not really solve the problems of numerical stabilityof rotation, so qualifies as a hack at best.

* Bug fix: attitude data written too sparsely during recording for certainrotation axes.

Change log 050126 -> 050216 (2005 Edition, patch 2)---------------------------------------------------* Improved stability of dynamic propagation of vessel state vectors. Dynamic

update should be stable to step lengths of ~50 seconds in LEO (at leastto time acceleration 100x, in most cases up to 1000x)

* Yet another modification to the iteration of Kepler's equation. This shouldimprove the stability of pathologic orbit element calculations (e.g.e ~ 1, a = small, as found in "straight up from planet surface" cases).

* Bug fix: orbital elements of planets not updated in MFDs.* Bug fix: Switching FoV no longer affects orbital elements.* Bug fix: CTD at MJD 49904.4 when Uranus is rendered.* Bug fix: Orbiter now ignores the DIERR_UNPLUGGED flag sometimes returned

by DirectInput for no obvious reason, which caused the joystick to stopresponding.

* API: Bug fix: VESSELSTATUS2 pointer passed to clbkSetStateEx after vesselcreation with oapiCreateVesselEx was invalid.* API: Default action of clbkSetStateEx is now to do a standard state

initialisation if obsolete ovcSetStateEx is not present.* Atlantis: SRB's and ET are now created with oapiCreateVesselEx (instead

of oapiCreateVessel).* DG: airbrake status is now shown on VC indicator panel.* DG: retro thrusters now operative only when retro covers are fully open.* DG: Additional switches in 2-D panel mode.* DG: Main, hover and scram throttles can now be pushed with mouse in VC

cockpit.* Dragonfly: Now uses Radu's updated DLL.* Shuttle-A: Now includes Radu's VC and cargo management extensions.

* Orbit MFD: now allows to toggle between planetocentric distance and altitudefor vessel, apoapsis and periapsis distances.* Orbit MFD: target name is now displayed.* Map MFD: bug fixed in drawing the red "below surface" section of the

trajectory. Entry and exit intersection points are now marked with red andgreen boxes, respectively. "Track" mode is now restored from scenario file.Manual has been updated to reflect new Map MFD capabilities.

* Frame rate plugin: Can now also display simulation time step graph.* Reduced sensitivity of initial joystick throttle response when "ignore

throttle setting on launch" is selected.* Manual: fixed errors relating to VC camera and panel scrolling key functions.

Change log 050116 -> 050126 (2005 Edition, patch 1)---------------------------------------------------* Bug fix: corrupt scenario "2005 Edition/Delta-glider/DG and DG-S.scn" fixed.* Bug fix: position of direction markers in VC HUD was incorrectly updated

with cockpit camera movement.* Bug fix: VC cockpit camera sometimes locked at forward position.* Bug fix: Improved initial estimate for iterative solution of Kepler's equation

for open orbits (e>1) at extreme values of mean anomaly. This could cause"jumps" in position when orbit stabilisation was enabled.

* Bug fix: Camera can now be controlled via mouse in ground observer mode.

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* Bug fix: DG: ISP for retro thrusters is now pressure-dependent in complexflight model. Retros have no effect on Venus surface any more.

* Bug fix: direct target selection in Docking HUD and Docking MFD no longerallows to select an invalid dock number.

* Bug fix: true airspeed calculation inaccurate at very high altitudes.* Bug fix: turned-off MFDs no longer reappear after panel switch.* Bug fix: Orbit MFD now remembers reference frame (EQU/ECL) between panel

switches and simulation sessions.* Bug fix: long time step problem at simulation start fixed.* Orbiter Manual: Updated Section 21.4 "Surface bases".* Added: emdot's latest set of surface markers for Earth, Moon, Venus, Mars* Surface MFD: re-arranged components for better compatibility with standard

EFIS instrumentation. Added support for IAS/TAS/GS/OS speed mode selection.* Surface HUD: switched speed and altitude boxes to make more compatible with

standard HUD layouts.* API: mouse position passed to clbkVCMouseEvent is now continuously updated

for virtual panel areas with PANEL_MOUSE_{L,R}BPRESSED attributes.* API: new VESSEL functions:

DWORD GetGroupThrusterCount (THGROUP_HANDLE thg) constDWORD GetGroupThrusterCount (THGROUP_TYPE thgt) constTHRUSTER_HANDLE GetGroupThruster (THGROUP_HANDLE thg, DWORD idx) constTHRUSTER_HANDLE GetGroupThruster (THGROUP_TYPE thgt, DWORD idx) const

Change log 041114 -> 050116 (2005 Edition)------------------------------------------* Added Tony's Tour of Jupiter scenario.* Particle streams: particles now respond to gravitational forces -> Better

dynamics for particles created outside atmospheres.* Particle streams: "atmospheric deceleration" now scaled with atmospheric

pressure. No slowdown outside the atmosphere independent ofPARTICLESTREAMSPEC::atmslowdown setting.

* Upgraded to emdot's surface markers.* DG: Added Roger's 11-16-04 external and VC mesh and textures. Adjusted group

indices for animation in the code. Added ladder animation to top hatchsequence.

* DG: condensation cloud when opening hatch in space.

* DG: Added "no-scram" external mesh. Disabled scram-specific groups in theVC mesh of the non-scram version. Activated indicator block on the dashboard.* DG: Activated hover balance control in panel mode.* DG: Individual fuselage markings* Map MFD: zoom, track and scroll functions implemented.* API: new functions

oapiCreateTextureSurfaceVESSEL::AddParticleStreamVESSEL2::clbkConsumeDirectKeyVESSEL2::clbkConsumeBufferedKeyVESSEL2::clbkAnimateVESSEL2::clbkDockEventVESSEL2::clbkSetStateEx

All ovcXXX callback functions (except ovcInit) have now been superseded.* VC: Generic engine status indicators in top left screen corner no longerdisplayed in virtual cockpit mode.

* Modified algorithm for cloud microstructures: transition is now gradual.* Microtexture altitude range can now be controlled with planet config option

"CloudMicrotextureAlt". Default is no microtexturing.* Bug fix: orbit stability problem fixed* Bug fix: fixed a bug which may have been responsible for problems with

starting scenarios in "target from" and "target to" camera modes.* Bug fix: reentry stream causing CTD.

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* Bug fix: instability when switching to ground observer camera mode inSaturn scenario.

* Bug fix: CTD on exit for certain docking configurations.

Change log 041010 -> 041114---------------------------* Constellation labels: modified text colour* Custom surface labels:

- modified format for custom label reference in config files: multiple listsare now supported

- label lists are now located under Config\\Labels- individual lists can be turned on/off from the planetarium dialog- initial on/off state is set in the config file.

* Added emdot's labels for Earth and Moon* HST: Recompiled HST.dll* DG: Adjusted hover exhaust position* Constellation labels: added missing Constell2.bin to zip.* Custom labels:

- no longer referenced in planet config file (other than to define anonstandard location). Instead, orbiter scans the appropriatesubdirectory directly. Makes it easier to add new lists via addons.

- Label lists can now contain headers to set colour, size, shape, cutoffdistance and initial visibility

* Implemented celestial markers. Added AGC navigation stars.

* Bug fix: Undocking is now possible again.* New interface for planetary modules. Introduced class CELBODY to act asinterface class for callbacks. Needs some more work and documentation.

* Sun is no longer fixed at coordinate origin. Its position is now generatedfrom VSOP87 E series. This could have significant long-term effects ontrajectory calculations - NEEDS TESTING! Preliminary tests indicate that thedifferences between VSOP and dynamic data are now at least an order ofmagnitude smaller than before! (Unfortunately the effect on Jovian moonsis not significant)

* Re-implemented VSOP module. Now every planet has its own DLL (deriving fromCELBODY). All VSOP-controlled planets call a common driver DLL(VsopDriver.dll in the orbiter main directory). Perturbation series are nolonger hard-coded in the DLL, but read from data files

(Config\\Data\Vsop87.dll) Only Sun, Mercury, Jupiter make so faruse of the new interface.* Galilean satellites (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto) are now updated with

analytic perturbation code (GALSAT).* Jupiter's barycentric offset is now calculated by GALSAT code. Jupiter now

uses the VSOP87 A series (rectangular) to allow direct addition of theoffset.

* Adjusted siderial day length of Galilean satellites.* New planet config option: AtmHazeShift, to shift the horizon base line of the

haze layer (in units of planet radius).* Bug fix: calculation of true anomaly from mean anomaly for ecc>1 (voyager

scenario failure)* Bug fix: vertex buffer for constellation labels is now held in system memory

(should fix Alt-Tab CTD)* All celestial body modules are now converted to new interface. The oldVSOP87.dll has been decomissioned. The new VSOP87 and GALSAT driver routineshave been moved to the Modules directory.

* Updated planet module sections in API Guide and API Reference.* Updated moon ephemeris files for moons to Tony's 2005 Horizons data (except

for Galilean moons which are now analytically updated)* Modified CELBODY ephemeris interface so that both true and barycentric data

can be returned by the module.* API Reference: Added CELBODY documentation

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* New vessel destruction sequence. Calling oapiDeleteVessel should now be morestable. Vessel destruction is deferred until the end of the frame update, sothat suicide (self-destruct) calls are now permitted. Focus vessel can nowalso be destroyed. If the last focus-enabled vessel is destroyed, Orbiterreturns to the launchpad.

* API: new functionsVESSEL::CreateAirfoil2VESSEL::DelAirfoilVESSEL::ClearAirfoilDefinitionsVESSEL::DelDockVESSEL::ClearDockDefinitions

* Bug fix: VESSEL::clbkPreStep and VESSEL::clbkPostStep are no longer calledwhen simulation is paused.

* DG: Scenario entry 'PSNGR [1 2 3 4]' to enable individual passengers(default none)

Change log 041007 -> 041010---------------------------* Bug fix: rearranged VESSEL data members which may have been responsible for

reported CTD of old vessel modules.* API: opcTimestep reverts to previous behaviour (called before state update)

new functions:opcPreStep (identical behaviour to opcTimeStep)opcPostStep (called after state update)

VESSEL2::clbkNavModeVESSEL2::clbkPreStepVESSEL2::clbkPostStep

deleted function:VESSEL2::clbkTimestep (replaced by clbkPostStep)

* API: Orbitersdk.h split into OrbiterAPI.h and VesselAPI.h* Surface MFD: vertical acceleration display is now more stable.* Support for old-style orbital stations has been removed.

Change log 040728 -> 041007---------------------------* Bug fix: Dialog context pointer passed in LPARAM to dialog message handler with

WM_INITDIALOG message was invalid in last beta.* Map MFD: Intersections with planet surface are now indicated.* Bug fix: check for orbit stabilisation would occasionally fail incorrectly at

large time steps.* Orbit stabilisation is now enabled by default.* Reworked killrot code: this version should reduce residual rotation for

docked stacks, and be more stable at high time accelerations.* Bug fix: Mapping of global coordinates to HUD screen coordinates (caused

artefacts in docking approach markers)* Added Roger's new DG exterior and VC meshes. Modified DG animations to work

with the new meshes. Added DG control dialog (Ctrl-Space).* DG: added instrumentation for VC.* DG: Moved meshes and textures into 'DG' subdirectories.

* DG-S html help: updated 2-D panel documentation.* Configured most VC displays and controls* Orbital elements: Modified iterative calculation of eccentric anomaly E from

mean anomaly M: initial guess for E no longer initialised to M, but to previous

value of E. This improves the stability of the iteration at eccentricitiesclose to 1. Threshold for residual r_k = M_k - E_k set to 1e-14. Iteration lim

itset to k_max = 10. Usually no more than 2-3 iterations are now required.This may fix the reported "straight-up" bug.

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* Keymapper: added key definitions for 'leaning' mode in VCDefaults: lean forward: Alt+Ctrl+Up, lean left: Alt+Ctrl+Left,lean right: Alt+Ctrl+Right, return: Alt+Ctrl+Down

* 'Leaning' mode implemented for DG VC.* Documentation: API Guide: updated and extended section 1.11 (designing panels)

and added section 1.12 (designing virtual cockpits). If you are in the business

of implementing vessel panels, please check if this is intelligible/complete/useful.

* Camera rotation implemented with mouse right-click and drag.* API: Introduced VESSEL2 interface derived from VESSEL, and moved all

virtual 'clbkXXX' functions there. This was necessary because it appears thatvirtual classes can't be expanded without losing backward compatibility, soin the future all vessel addons would stop working if new callback functionsare added to the interface. With the new setup, addons remain compatible whenthey refer to an older VESSEL interface. Propagation to a new interface issimply done by deriving from a newer interface class.

* API: new functionsVESSEL2::clbkADCtrlModeVESSEL2::clbkRCSModeVESSEL2::clbkPostCreation (to replace ovcPostCreation)VESSEL2::clbkFocusChanged (to replace ovcFocusChanged)VESSEL::GetMeshVESSEL::SetCameraShiftRange

oapiMeshGroupCount* API:VESSEL2::clbkVCMouseEvent has new interface (now returns mouse information)new function oapiVCSetAreaClickmode_Quadrilateral allows definition ofquadrilateral mouse regions in VC

* Changed behaviour of opcTimestep: it is now called _after_ simulation statehas been updated to current time step, rather than before. Attention addondevelopers: make sure to take this into account when implementing time-critical applications.

Change log 040531 -> 040728---------------------------* FlightData module: Data can now be logged in FlightData.log.

* FlightData module bug fix: worked around a compiler bug which could freeze orbiterwhen displaying data graphs in some circumstances.

* Planetarium: constellation labels are now rendered as GDI text instead of blitting from

a bitmap, in the hope that this solves some CTD problems. Constellation labelscan now

be switched independent of lines, and can be displayed in full or abbreviated.The labels

are now encoded in Constell2.bin. Constlabel.bmp is no longer necessary.* Planetarium mode: custom surface labels now implemented. To use them, add UserLabelFile

entry to planet cfg file, and add a file containing the labels. Format for eac

h lineof the label file: :

* Experimental: Micro-textures for cloud layers.* Some more functions included in key mapper.* Increased size of launchpad dialog.* Orbiter online help: switched to html-based help browser. Now can also be called during the

simulation (Alt-F1). Includes: scenario help (see scenario Checklists|Mission1 for an example)

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and vessel help (see any scenario with DG for an example).Known problems:a) the HTML client sometimes opens message boxes (for example, when using sear

ch).This upsets orbiter in fullscreen mode, since it needs to track all windows. H

aven't found afix for this yet.b) the HTML client doesn't provide access to its message queue, which means th

at the "focusfollows mouse" behaviour can't be properly implemented.c) only "compiled" help files (chm) are supported, not plain html files. This

requires theMS Html Help Workshop (which can be downloaded from MS). Somewhat annoying...d) Limited modularity. I haven't yet found a way for example to merge a separa

te help file foran addon MFD into the main help system. May require some JavaScript applet to

search a givendirectory for help files and show them in a html file, but I don't know how.

* Double-clicking on dialog box title bars now minimises the window to its titlebar.

* Planet config files: Added more horizon haze options:- AtmHazeExtent to define the amount of bleed-in of horizon haze into the plan

et disc.Range 0 (thinnest) to 1 (widest). Default 0.1

- AtmHazeDensity to modify haze density. Default: 1- AtmHazeColor to define horizon haze colour independent from atmospheric colour.* Removed a few more scenario inconsistencies.* DG: started on scramjet implementation (Alt+ / Alt- to increase/decrease scramjet throttle)

Some technical specs in DG HTML documentation.* DG: Hover thrust set to 150kN (realistic flight model) or 230kN (easy model).For vertical

lift-off from Earth with the realistic model, main fuel mass < 3600kg is required.* DG panel: Added scramjet throttle sliders* DG: major redesign of 2D main panel to accomodate scramjet controls. Also rede

signed mainengine gimbal controls.* DG: Airbrake, radiator and elevator trim status are now stored in scenario.* DLL interfaces: All modules (including plugins and vessel dlls) should now

- use the #define ORBITER_MODULE directive- link Orbitersdk.lib (in addition to Orbiter.lib)- use InitModule() and ExitModule() methods instead of DllMain().This allows orbiter to invoke a common DLL entry point which dumps the module

name andversion to Orbiter.log.

* Started on redesigning the vessel callback API. The idea is to replace all ovcXXX callback

functions with virtual VESSEL methods which can be overwritten by derived clas

ses. AllovcXXX functions are retained as far as they were present in the 031217 release, but are

marked obsolete in the manual. ovcXXX functions added in the beta have been removed.

Orbiter probes the module version id (see oapiGetModuleVersion) to check whichcallback

functions are present in the VESSEL interface. The new mechanism has major advantages:

- Cleaner module code (no more need to cast from VESSEL pointers, and no need

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to calla derived vessel method from the ovc callback hook).

- Default behaviour can be invoked by calling the base class method, instead of requiring

a separate oapiDoSomethingDefault function.* API: new functions:

oapiSetParticleLevelRefVESSEL::GetAtmRefoapiGetPlanetAtmConstantsoapiColourFilloapiBltPanelAreaBackground (to be used in conjunction with the new

PANEL_MAP_BGONREQUEST panel area mapping flag).oapiGetOrbiterVersionoapiGetModuleVersionInitModule and ExitModule (replace opcDLLInit and opcDLLExit in plugin m

odules, and DllMainin all other modules)

VESSEL::clbkSetClassCaps (to replace ovcSetClassCaps)VESSEL::clbkLoadStateEx (to replace ovcLoadStateEx)VESSEL::clbkSaveState (to replace ovcSaveState)VESSEL::clbkTimestep (to replace ovcTimestep)VESSEL::clbkVisualCreated (to replace ovcVisualCreated)VESSEL::clbkVisualDestroyed (to replace ovcVisualDestroyed)VESSEL::clbkDrawHUD (to replace ovcDrawHUD)

VESSEL::clbkLoadGenericCockpit (to replace ovcGenericCockpit)VESSEL::clbkLoadPanel (to replace ovcLoadPanel)VESSEL::clbkPanelRedrawEvent (to replace ovcPanelRedrawEvent)VESSEL::clbkPanelMouseEvent (to replace ovcPanelMouseEvent)VESSEL::clbkLoadVC (to replace ovcLoadVC)VESSEL::clbkVCRedrawEvent (to replace ovcVCRedrawEvent)VESSEL::clbkVCMouseEvent (to replace ovcVCMouseEvent)

* API: deleted functions:ovcDrawHUD (replaced by VESSEL::clbkDrawHUD)ovcGenericCockpit (replaced by VESSEL::clbkLoadGenericCockpit)ovcLoadVC (replaced by VESSEL::clbkLoadVC)ovcVCRedrawEvent (replaced by VESSEL::clbkVCRedrawEvent)ovcVCMouseEvent (replaced by VESSEL::clbkVCMouseEvent)

oapiDrawDefaultHUD (no longer required, because functionality is provided bybase class VESSEL::clbkDrawHUD)

* Bug fix: Modified method of merging planet textures with background colour. (Now uses an

additional texture stage state instead of destination blending). Should get rid of "stars

shining through planets" bug.* Bug fix: planetarium mode "off" is now remembered across sessions.* Bug fix: fixed "yellow clouds with space elevator" bug* Bug fix: parent-child attachment chains with more than one level are now correctly updated.* Bug fix: Orbit HUD: prograde marker no longer shows up in 90 deg. position (or

bit-normal).* Bug fix: Planet initialisation with EllipticOrbit = FALSE should now work (butlong-term

stability of dynamic planet updates still needs to be tested)* Bug fix: Reading in hyperbolic orbital vessel elements from scenario did not produce

correct orbits. (This may also fix problem with jumps in hyperbolic orbits during

simulation)

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Change log 040425 -> 040531---------------------------* Twilight: moved the onset of green and blue sky components during dawn/dusk

closer together. This reduces the yellow and green hues, and narrows the reddish

tips of the crescent Earth.* Bug fix: HUD now scales again with FOV in 2D panel mode.* Horizon haze adjusted to be less bright at large distances.* Bug fix: scenarios without fixed start time are always reset to launch at

system time.* Keyboard mapper: partially implemented. Key associations read from keymap.cfg.

Logical key functions defined in orbitersdk.h (OAPI_LKEY_xxx) for later use inAPI.

* Experimental implementation of distance-dependent fog at low altitudes.Problems:- DirectX doesn't allow fog to be applied before lighting transformation, so

fog can't cope with lighting variations and only works locally (at low altitudes)

Orbiter therefore scales down fog as a function of camera altitude- Fog leads to artefacts when applied to large triangles (apparent size) -> ca

usesartefacts at very low altitudes outside areas covered with hires base tiles.

* Experimental implementation of increased ambient levels within lit atmospheres.

Also works only locally and is therefore faded out as a function of camera altitude-> causes areas close to the terminator, which appear dark from a distance, to

brightenas the camera moves in.

* Ctrl-F3 switches back to the previously active vessel. This allows to quicklyswitch

backwards and forwards between two vessels.* Planetarium mode: added labels for surface bases and transmitters.* Planetarium mode: status is now saved in orbiter.cfg.* Improved stability of calculation of eccentric anomaly.* Luna.dll: replaced lunar ephemeris calculation with (partial) ELP2000-82 perturbation

solution. Moon position and velocity is now significantly more accurate and consistent.(also fixes the old "sliding over lunar surface" bug). Moon.cfg now recognises

theErrorLimit flag (same usage as for major planets)

* Planet module interface has changed:_Ephemeris replaces _EclSphData_FastEphemeris replaces _CurrentDataBoth new methods accept an additional data format parameter, which allows to p

rovideephemerides in cartesian coordinates instead of the standard polar coordinates

.* Added status output to splash screen.

* Demo/kiosk mode: can now be activated by setting flags in Orbiter.cfg. In demomode,- Background is covered with an image- only scenario tab is accessible in launchpad- maximum simulation runtime can be limited- maximum launchpad idle time can be limited, before- orbiter auto-launches with one of the scenarios in the Demo folder, if avail

able- Orbiter exit option can be disabled.

* API: Added vessel callback function ovcDrawHUD to allow modules to draw

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vessel-specific modifications in the HUD.* API: Added function oapiDrawDefaultHUD to generate default HUD from within ovcDrawHUD.* DG: Now shows landing gear status in the HUD, using the ovcDrawHUD mechanism.* Included Roger Benson's updated Mir. Modified cross sections and PMI values in

Mir.cfg.* Orbit MFD: Semi-major axis for hyperbolic orbits is now displayed as negative.* Bug fix: calculation of eccentric and true anomaly of hyperbolic orbits.* Bug fix: potential problems initialising hyperbolic orbits* State vectors are now correctly calculated from orbital elements if e>1. Orbit

stabilisation is now enabled for hyperbolic orbits.

Change log 040401 -> 040425---------------------------* Atlantis module: Trim is now available after loading orbiter-only scenarios.* Only meshes with the VISMODE_EXTERNAL attribute cast shadows.* Changing mesh visibility flags now also works while the mesh is rendered. Added

constant MESHVIS_NEVER (0) for convenience.* Docking approach path rectangles now work with VC HUD.* Preliminary implementation of atmospheric haze by alpha-gradient texture.* New format for surface bases in planet cfg files, to simplify the addition of

new bases. The old format is still recognized and can be used simultaneously.* API: added functions

oapiSwitchPaneloapiSetPanel* Bug fix: cloud brightness increased when camera is close to runway lighting* Ring systems are now rendered without z-buffer if the camera is inside the inner

ring radius. This should get rid of some ring rendering artefacts.* Slight modification of Earth AtmColor0: less red, more blue.* Ground observer panning speed is now stored in orbiter.cfg* Planets rendered through an atmosphere now add the background colour to their

surface (check moon from Earth's surface)

Change log 040216 -> 040401---------------------------

* Bug fix: Simulation window now receives input focus after double-clicking ascenario from the list.* Bug fix: Panels not updated when switching spacecraft with F3.* Bug fix: GDI resource leak in Map MFD.* Bug fix: File handle leak when loading base surface tiles.* Large distances (>1e4AU) are now displayed as pc (parsec)* Virtual cockpit HUD implemented.* Meshes marked with MESHVIS_COCKPIT are now again rendered in internal views.* Added flag MESHVIS_VC to be used with VESSEL::SetMeshVisibilityMode to mark amesh

to be rendered in virtual cockpit mode only.* Base objects remain visible even if camera is below zero altitude.* Virtual cockpit mode is now stored in the scenario (BEGIN_VC/END_VC)

* VC HUD: Implemented camera parallax correction.* Improved VC camera rotation algorithm* API: added functions

VESSEL::GetCameraDefaultDirectionVESSEL::SetCameraDefaultDirectionVESSEL::SetCameraRotationRangeoapiCameraSetCockpitDiroapiCameraMode

* New API vessel callback function ovcGenericCockpit to initialise or disablegeneric cockpit view.

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Change log 040128 -> 040216---------------------------* Modified the brightness fall-off with distance for planets rendered as pixel

blocks. Planet brightnesses compare now better with star brightnesses whenviewed from Earth, but it remains a compromise due to limited dynamic range.

* Adjusted planet AlbedoRGB for Venus and Mercury.* Modified darkening of sky during dusk/dawn: sky remains brighter, stars come

on later. Sky also darkens less rapidly with altitude.* Ground observer camera dialog: Locations can now be entered manually (longitude,

latitude, altitude) instead of selecting from the predefined locations.Added new button "Current" to set the current camera location to ground observ

er mode.This now also provides a kind of flyby mode: move the camera in target-relativ

emode ahead of the vessel, then click "Current" to fix the camera and see the v

esselfly by.

* Added stencil buffer support to remove the shadow rendering artefacts arisingfrom

overlapping projected polygons. Reduced shadow darkness. Launchpad dialog nowhas an option to enable/disable stencil buffers in the video tab. If disabled,

or if video mode doesn't support stencil buffers, shadows are rendered black.* Diffuse particle streams can now also generate ground shadows.* API: Added oapiGetPlanetJCoeffCount, oapiGetPlanetJCoeff, VESSEL::OrbitStabilised,

VESSEL::NonsphericalGravityEnabled.* DG: Reduced hover thrust rating. VTOL is now just about possible on Mars, butno

longer on Earth.* Bug fix: wrong signs in Surface HUD pitch ladder labels.* Added signs to Orbit HUD pitch ladder labels.* Added azimuth ribbon to Orbit HUD.* Experimental implementation of nosewheel steering (used by DG).* New particles for Atlantis SRB.

* Camera can now be rotated in cockpit mode. Some changes in the keyboard controls:- Cursor keys now rotate the view- Panels are scrolled with Ctrl-Cursor keys- Switch between panels with Alt-Cursor keysChanges in joystick coolie hat controls:- Coolie hat now rotates the view- Coolie hat + joystick button 2 scrolls the panel

* Virtual cockpit implementation started. F8 now cycles through generic, 2D panels,

and 3D virtual cockpit where supported.* Added callback function ovcLoadVC for vessel modules to initialise the virtual

cockpit.

* New API functions:oapiVCRegisterMFD (register MFD surface in virtual cockpit)oapiVCRegisterArea (register a texture area for dynamic updates in virtual coc

kpit)oapiGetTextureHandle (retrieve a texture from a mesh - required for accessingtextures for dynamic updates)

* Mesh file extensions:FLAG 2 (bit 1) indicates that the group is not rendered (but its shadow is)FLAG 4 (bit 2) indicates that lighting is disabled when rendering the group

(useful for rendering instruments)

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Flag 'D' following a texture name indicates that the texture can be dynamically

updated (for virtual cockpits).* Added mouse interface to virtual cockpit.* Modified virtual cockpit camera for more 'natural' feeling:

- rotation point is offset from camera position ("head-neck offset") to createa parallax when turning the head.

- small acceleration/deceleration at the beginning and end of a head rotation.* Started on virtual cockpit design for DG

Change log 031217 -> 040128---------------------------* Improved cloud shadow implementation (cloud shadows now appear less "grey")* More than 64k stars can now be rendered.* New encoding for planets as pixel blocks. Colours are now correct in 16bit

modes. "Blockiness" is reduced.* Bug fix: Crash on selecting "ignore joystick throttle setting on launch" for

joysticks without throttle control.* Bug fix: surface bases are now rendered below cloud cover.* Nonspherical planet shapes can now be considered in the calculation of the

gravitational potential (but the shape must be symmetric w.r.t. its axis ofrotation). At the moment, perturbation terms up to the 4th order harmonic(coefficients J2-J4) are used. Perturbation terms for the major planets are

included.* New feature: shadows projected from vessels onto planetary surfaces.* Mesh files now support "FLAG" group entry to specify bit-flags. Bit 0 in

vessel meshes indicates "exclude from shadow projection", to improve renderefficiency of shadows.

* Bug fix: Launchpad freezing when selecting a fullscreen-only video mode.* Bug fix: Video modes erraneously registered as fullscreen-only.* Directories in the Launchpad scenario list are now sorted alphabetically.* Scenarios can now be launched by double-clicking in the list.* Orbit MJD: Orbital elements can now be displayed in equatorial reference

frame, in addition to ecliptic frame. New button ("FRM") added to switchbetween frames.Target elements are now displayed even if the reference body is not the

target's primary gravitational field source.* DG: Reduced wheel brake effect.* Modified meshes for DG, Atlantis (+SRB and tank) for efficient shadow rendering

(added "FLAG 1" entries). Reduced Atlantis mesh by 1300 vertices.* Mesh base objects can now cast shadows (must specify the "SHADOW" flag in their

base config entry).* Mesh base object elevations are now corrected for Earth curvature when

"MapObjectsToSphere" flag is specified in the config file. ATTENTION SURFACEBASE ADDON DEVELOPERS: manual y-offsets for mesh objects (defined in thePOS entry of the config file or directly in the mesh) should be removed.

* Specular reflection from water surfaces now depends on reflection angle and

atmospheric colour, to correct for the excessively yellow reflection hue.* Added more tiles to KSC.

Change log 031105 -> 031217---------------------------* Bug fix: Planet textures are now restored in T&L fullscreen modes

after Alt+Tab.* Bug fix: PlanetPatchRes entry in Orbiter.cfg is now interpreted correctly

(higher planet texture resolution for entries > 1)

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* New feature: Option to ignore joystick throttle setting on simulationstart has been added to Joystick tab in Orbiter Launchpad.

* Modified colours for specular reflection from water surfaces* New feature: Added "cloud shadows on surface" visual option* Docking port index for direct HUD selection (Ctrl+Alt+R) now starts with 1

(previously 0) to make consistent with dock numbering in info sheet (Ctrl-I)* Direct target selection for Docking MFD (Shift-T) now works with vessels (not

just legacy stations) and allows docking port specification* Docking MFD now stores mode (NAV/VIS) and slaved NAV receiver index.* Reduced SIZE parameter in Canaveral.cfg to 1000 to avoid rendering of surface

tiles at large distances.* DG exhaust particles now defined for both main engines separately. Single-

engine situations are now handled properly.* Bug fix: Shuttle-A auxiliary pod rotation animation error.* Modified profile drag calculation for DG with more pronounced drag increase for

high AOA.* Bug fix: Base tiles can now be applied on the southern hemisphere. Note that:

(a) latitude index 0 in the base config file (and tile texture name *_n0000.dds)

correspond to tiles immediately north of the equator, while latitude index-1

(and tile texture name *_s0001.dds) correspond to tiles immediately southof

the equator.(b) textures for tiles on the southern hemisphere must be rotated 180 degrees.* Bug fix: Pixelated edge in horizon haze textures with FSAA.* New feature: F9 now also displays ecliptic grid and equator of target planet on

celestial sphere, plus planet and vessel markers. New "Planetarium options"dialog (Ctrl-F9).

* Celestial bodies (planets, moons) are now rendered at larger camera distancesas

pixel blocks with variable intensity.* Polar regions can now be covered with level 9 texture patches.* The display of the info block in the top right corner can now toggled with "I"

also in internal (cockpit) view. The info block has been cleaned up a bit.

* New categories "Celestial body" and "Camera target" added to object info dialog(Ctrl-I). Planetary orbital elements and positions are no longer displayed in

themain simulation window.

* "Planetary texture files" documentation has been moved from User Manual(Orbiter.pdf) to API Guide (Orbitersdk\doc\API_Guide.pdf).

* The "step limit" entry in the orbit stabilisation definition of the orbiterlaunchpad is now active. This value is interpreted as follows:

Only apply orbit stabilisation if this condition is satisfied(in addition to all other conditions):

v dt > a 2pi rwhere v: orbital velocity, dt: time step, a: step limit,

r: radius vector length* Upgraded Orbiter's star database (star.bin) to Hipparcos data set (>100000stars). The lauchpad now contains a "Contrast" entry in addition to "Brightnes

s"to control the appearence of stars. The "Constellation colour" entry has beenremoved.

* SDK: oapiOpenInputBox: input boxes now accept all printable characters as input.* Vessel thrust ratings (main, retro, hover) are now listed in the info sheet

(previously in the simulation window).

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* Orbiter now again assigns keys 1,2..0 for plugin MFD modes which request aselection key that is already assigned.

* Bug fix: possible crash on repeated opening of input box fixed.* Bug fix: fixed problem that caused FlightData dialog not to update its graphs.* Reference planet for Surface MFD and atmospheric calculation now based on

distance to planet surface rather than centre.* Added the latest version (v3.05) of Duncan Sharpe's TransX MFD module.* Bug fix: initial field of view (FOV) is now correctly read from scenario.* Shuttle-PB: Now contains RCS thrusters for forward/back motion in linear mode.* Shuttle-PB: Particle streams for main and hover thrusters.* Mouse wheel is now supported to move the camera towards/away from the target

in external views (replicating PgUp/PgDown)* Global surface base velocities are now correctly updated.