Rocketry Planet

Rocket image created using the new RockSim v9.

WORLD WIDE WEB — RockSim v9 is entering beta testing and has huge new features that Apogee couldn’t stop potential beta testers from talking about, so they thought they would spill the beans first by writing about the new features.  The new software is scheduled to be released in time for Christmas 2008.

The big new feature is the ability to add pods to the outside of the rocket. This revolutionizes the process of designing rockets. All those work-around procedures you had to do in the past to put things on the outside of the rocket are now eliminated, opening the door to all kinds of new rocket designs.

The ability to add pods to the outside of the tube is the most requested feature that users have asked for since RockSim version 2.0 came out in the late 1990s. In RockSim v9, think of a pod as an object that is similar to a sub-assembly part. Essentially it is a collection of other parts, like a nose cone, body tubes, and fins. You just arrange these parts under the "pod" label. The main differences from sub-assemblies are that the pod can begin with a nose cone and that it is attached to the outside of the main body of the rocket.

The first thing that comes to mind will be strap-on booster pods, like those on a Titan IV or Delta 2 rocket. Those configurations are now possible. Besides a nose cone and body tube, a pod can also have fins attached to it. What is cool is that RockSim automatically calculates the CP and the CG affects of the pod, just like it always has.

The addition of pods will also change the drag coefficient of the rocket. Right now that change only includes the extra components. There is an additional interference factor that should be added to the rocket every time there is a new component added. You will have to adjust your drag coefficient in the software for each design you make that uses a pod.

Apogee will be asking for beta testers soon, but please do not contact them yet, Apogee owner Tim Van Milligan said. "We're going to accept beta testers in an order that we feel will add some structure to the process." Apogee will be sending out a special announcement to subscribers of their newsletter in a few days, but they ask that users be patient.

If you purchase the current RockSim v8 between now and when version 9 is officially released, you will get a free upgrade to version 9.0. This includes people that have a previous version of RockSim (versions 1-7) and upgrade to version 8. This offer is retroactive to October 1, 2008. If you bought RockSim v8 after that date, you will get the free upgrade too.

Website: http://www.apogeerockets.com/

Reader comments:

#1 Re: RockSIM v9 in Beta

Interesting. I might have to contact Tim and see if I can be a beta tester.

markkoelsch on 11-05-2008 01:10 PM

#2 Re: RockSIM v9 in Beta

I just read about some of the new features that are to be incorporated into Rocksim 9. Their are several, but two of them are really big, in my opinion.

The first is the inclusion of pods. The pods can be attached to just about anywhere on the rocket, can have their own nose cones and fins, can be just fins with fins attached to them, and they can drop off during the flight. So, this will allow you to have strap on boosters that are jettisoned during flight. It will allow for fins to have fins. Want to simulate a Delta 4 Heavy like I do...well, now you can.

The other is that the product is set to download motor files direcly from Thrustcurve.org. Click update engine files, and it goes out and looks.

If you are interested in more detail, please read the attachment.

Mark Koelsch

markkoelsch on 11-05-2008 07:21 PM

#3 Article: RockSim v9 now in beta, release due by Christmas

Quote:

WORLD WIDE WEB — RockSim v9 is entering beta testing and has huge new features that Apogee couldn't stop potential beta testers from talking about, so they thought they would spill the beans first by writing about the new features. The new software is scheduled to be released in time for Christmas 2008.

Read the full article.

Planet News on 11-05-2008 09:16 PM

#4 Re: Article: RockSim v9 now in beta, release due by Christmas

We need some clarification here: the Apogee website states if you buy v8 now, then you get a free upgrade to v9.

If you have v7, upgrade to v8 now, do you get the free v9 upgrade?

Or is the free offer only for first time v8 purchases. (Did I make that clear?)

rocketguy101 on 11-06-2008 12:05 AM

#5 Re: Article: RockSim v9 now in beta, release due by Christmas

If you upgrade to v8 now, you get the free upgrade when it comes out.

ddmobley on 11-06-2008 12:15 AM

#6 Re: Article: RockSim v9 now in beta, release due by Christmas

Not to be a poor sport, but I purchased v8 about 3 or 4 months ago. If I'd waited a couple extra months I could have upgraded for free???? Not sure that I feel that's fair. Only "some" v8 users get it for free, but not all?

daremo on 11-06-2008 11:37 AM

#7 Re: Article: RockSim v9 now in beta, release due by Christmas

Quote:

Not to be a poor sport, but I purchased v8 about 3 or 4 months ago. If I'd waited a couple extra months I could have upgraded for free???? Not sure that I feel that's fair. Only "some" v8 users get it for free, but not all?

There has to be a cutoff somewhere. But, as a current owner, you'll be offered an upgrade price which is much less than the full retail cost.

It's common practice for a software company to offer a free upgrade to people who purchase the current version of a program after a new version is announced. Otherwise, people will stop buying the current version as they wait for the new version.

-- Roger (who remembers what happened to Osborne Computers)

jadebox on 11-06-2008 12:24 PM

#8 Re: Article: RockSim v9 now in beta, release due by Christmas

I see a nice picture of the orbital transport here on this lead story and other models on the Apogee newsletter. Does anyone know if RockSim libraries will be updated to include these new computer models? I would think that the orbital transport would be a "bear" to create from scratch, but if someone has created this model and other models with pods already, then the version 9 would become more attractive.

Bob

aerostadt on 11-06-2008 10:57 PM

#9 Re: Article: RockSim v9 now in beta, release due by Christmas

I wonder if they have fixed the various bugs in the 3D renderer. I know not many people bother with it, but I love doing the full design in cluding textures, and there are some pretty irritating issues with it as it stands.

One texturing feature that would be great would be to be able to apply a texture to multiple selected parts of the rocket at the same time. For example a texture that goes across multiple body segments. Currently, you have to do it manually and manually adjsu the scale factors. And sometime sit simply does weird stuff that makes it impossible to make it look wirght. Also, currently, transitions do not draw properly in 3D. Also, it appears that not all rotations and transforms are retained when the file is saved.

But even with the issues, it is still cool to be able to fully visualize the rocket in advance.

sberfield on 11-10-2008 05:40 PM

#10 Re: Article: RockSim v9 now in beta, release due by Christmas

I upgraded my v7 to v8 in anticipation of the free upgrade to v9. I loaded some of my existing sims w/ 48" rods into v8 and found the same problem I reported in this thread. Hopefully Tim & Co. will fix this in v9 before release!!

rocketguy101 on 11-12-2008 01:43 PM

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