Microsoft Space Simulator
Microsoft Space Simulator is a space flight simulator program, based on Microsoft Flight Simulator for MS-DOS. It was one of the first general-purpose space flight simulators and it incorporated concepts from astrodynamics, motion, and celestial mechanics.
Microsoft Space Simulator
- Date
- 1994
- Publisher
- Microsoft
- Language
- English
- Genre
- space flight simulation game
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Documentary summary
Microsoft Space Simulator is a space flight simulator program, based on Microsoft Flight Simulator for MS-DOS. It was one of the first general-purpose space flight simulators and it incorporated concepts from astrodynamics, motion, and celestial mechanics.
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q1931622 · wikipedia · Microsoft Space Simulator
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Microsoft Space Simulator • Developer — Bruce Artwick Organization Ltd. • Publisher — Microsoft • Designer — Charles Guy • Genre — Space flight simulator • Modes — Single player • Platforms — MS-DOS
Development
Development
Microsoft Space Simulator was released under the Microsoft Home line in 1994. It was developed by BAO Ltd., a company run by Bruce Artwick (who was also behind the development of Microsoft Flight Simulator) with Charles Guy as lead developer. It provided support for 256-color graphics on three resolutions: 320x400, 640x400, and 800x600. The graphics featured dithered gouraud shading 3D vessels, with texture mapped planets, moons, and deep-sky objects.
Physics engine
Physics engine
Microsoft Space Simulator uses Newton's laws of motion but takes account of relativistic effects by decreasing a spacecraft's acceleration as its speed approaches the speed of light. It does not take account of time dilation. Atmospheric effect are not modeled and all planetary surfaces are treated as flat spheres. A limited collision detection between vessels is implemented by using docking ports.
Features
Features
The simulator featured 14 different spacecraft, most of them futuristic. Historical or current tech craft include the Space Shuttle (with its Manned Maneuvering Unit) and Apollo Command/Service Module and Lunar Module.
History of the object
Dated record
History of the object
Explore 1994
The full dated record · 4 entries
1994
Microsoft Space Simulator published.
1994
Microsoft Space Simulator is recorded as published in 1994.
1994
Microsoft Space Simulator (1994) is digitised and catalogued by Open Library.
1994
Microsoft Space Simulator digitised by Open Library.
Places
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Places
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- United States
Primary material
Digitised editions and texts
Microsoft Space Simulator (1994) — Open Library
Reception
PC Gamer gave the simulator a score of 84% in its September 1994 issue, praising its graphics and realistic approach to space travel, while criticizing the poor or non-existent sound and the interface. Others praised the lack of sound indicating how it added realism.
Literature
Scholarly footprint
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Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Lee Buchanan. The Final Frontier. PC Gamer. November 1994.
- 2.All Media Network. Microsoft Space Simulator. AllGame.
- 3.MICROSOFT SPACE SIMULATOR by BAO (Bruce Artwick Organization). www.ibiblio.org.
- 4.Media : Microsoft Space Simulator : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia. www.sf-encyclopedia.com.
- 5.MS Space Simulator - March 1995 PC Gamer Review. www.planetmic.com.
References
Citations
References
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Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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