Well, that was quick! After publishing the first details about this yesterday, Captain Sim didn’t take long to deliver it to the community. It’s available now in the developer’s store. See more details below!
It’s quite a surprising discovery—and perhaps more awesome than what seems at first glance. Captain Sim has quietly unveiled their latest project, and it’s none other than the Space Shuttle! That’s right. After taking on a sci-fi theme with their TIE Fighter release a couple of years back—a short-lived project due to some kind of licensing problems—Captain Sim has now turned to something real, though still space-related: the iconic spacecraft that once bridged the gap between aviation and space exploration.
While there hasn’t been an official announcement yet, a dedicated product page has gone live, offering plenty of details, preview images, and a teaser video to ignite your interest. It’s important to note, however, that this release will focus exclusively on the Shuttle’s intense return to Earth, giving simmers the chance to master one of aviation and spaceflight’s most legendary challenges.
Yes, Captain Sim won’t allow you to take the Space Shuttle up into space with its dramatic launch. Instead, the add-on zeroes in on the other intense phase of its operations: reentry, descent, and landing. Simmers will have the chance to navigate the unforgiving journey from the upper atmosphere—with no engines to assist—all the way to a precise landing on the runway. The add-on skips the Shuttle’s launch, ascent, and orbital operations, placing all the emphasis on the return leg of the mission.
According to the official page, the experience will be broken into three phases:
- Reentry – Starting at 275,000 feet, you’ll guide the Shuttle through the blazing heat of atmospheric reentry, with AUTO mode assisting until 50,000 feet.
- Terminal Area Energy Management – Manage your energy and position as you enter the Heading Alignment Cone for approach.
- Approach, Landing, and Rollout – Execute a controlled glide to the runway and bring the Shuttle to a stop.
Sounds fun, right?
In terms of visuals, Captain Sim has equipped the Space Shuttle with a highly detailed exterior model that includes high-resolution 8K textures, realistic animations, and even astronauts visible in the payload bay. Reentry heating visual effects and a deployable drag parachute will also be part of the experience—as they should.
Five liveries will be included, representing the genuinely iconic Shuttle fleet: Atlantis, Challenger, Columbia, Discovery, and Endeavour.
Inside, the Shuttle will come with a retrofitted glass cockpit featuring a Heads-Up Display (HUD), Multifunction Electronic Display System (MEDS), and adjustable lighting. While not every system is modeled to study-level fidelity, Captain Sim encourages users to refer to the manual to set expectations.
The Space Shuttle is available now in Captain Sim’s store for $14.99. It’s only for MSFS 2020 for now but expect to see it in MSFS 2024 sometime in the future.
Captain Sim’s Space Shuttle is shaping up to be a truly unique addition to Microsoft Flight Simulator. While it focuses exclusively on the descent phases of Shuttle operations, it promises an exhilarating ride as you bring the Shuttle back to Earth safely—just as many talented astronauts did when the spacecraft was in operation. Very exciting!
