An interactive ascent simulator. Pick a launch stack, light the engines, and fly a closed-loop gravity turn from the pad to a stable low-Earth parking orbit.
How it works
Reaching orbit is about going sideways fast enough that you keep missing the ground. The autopilot targets a parking orbit for each vehicle, holding angle-of-attack low through the dense atmosphere, then pinning apoapsis and raising periapsis until the orbit closes.
The model
Flight is integrated in a planet-centred 2D plane. Orbital elements come from the state vector via vis-viva — apoapsis and periapsis on the HUD are the true instantaneous orbit.
Controls
Select a vehicle from the top-left dropdown. The sim auto-flies a gravity turn to orbit. Time warp and camera modes are in the bottom tray — tap the arrow to expand it.
Drag to orbit the camera, scroll to zoom. The orbital trace shows your trajectory — watch it evolve from suborbital to closed orbit as you ascend.
Vehicle specifications
Vehicle
Height
Dia.
Stages
Liftoff thrust
Payload→LEO
Disclaimer
This is an independent project, not affiliated with SpaceX, NASA, ULA, or Blue Origin. All parameters are from public-domain sources. Concept demonstrator only — not for mission planning.
The software implementation, architecture, visualizations, and creative expression herein are the intellectual property of Transpire Dynamics LLC. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, or derivative use of this work is prohibited.
This is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or derived from any controlled technical data of SpaceX, NASA, ULA, Blue Origin, or any launch provider.
These are concept demonstrators, not engineering tools. Not for mission planning or operational use.