Kerbal Space Program

Overheal

I'll probably repost this in Games, but it's really much more of a simulator with a sense of humour.

http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/

Someone's gone and made a fully functional rocket simulator. You can build them with decouplers, liquid and solid fuel boosters, perform orbits, multi-stage launches, etc.

It's got a very robust physics engine and all of the math is available to calculate stable orbits around Earth Kerth.

Currently not more than a simulator, but the current version is Free (And will remain free). A future pay-for version is planned that will feature orbital and interplanetary missions, and a full on space program with budgets and cash to rake in for doing things successfully like getting satellites into a stable orbit.







And of course you can build some ridiculous things:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMStnYqL_mE

Here's a much friendly getting started tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdrnEDOcBc0

Enjoy, I'm hooked.

Conor108

This looks easier than Orbiter:) Thanks!

AugustusMinimus

Good game.

I hear there are add on packs for extra pieces including the space shuttle.

Overheal

yeah in the site's forum. The shuttle's liquid booster is finnicky though. Prone to structural failure. Wish the guy would go back and fix it up. Half the time I end up launching off the pad and the boosters will get left behind while I'm carrying the liquid fuel for it.

Overature

Nice, i wanna give this ago, is it educational in the way that you can learn theories and stuff