Chapter 2: Getting Acquainted with the X-Plane Apollo Simulator

Basic Controls
Controls in X-Plane Apollo fall into one of three categories—a mission segment either has:
 * a) no control (i.e., the user watches, as in the separation, descent burn, and launch mission segments),
 * b) flight controls (as in the powered descent, vertical descent, and command module docking mission segments),
 * c) or vehicle controls (as in the lunar rover mission segment).

Note: When your spacecraft crashes, go into the settings menu and select a new mission segment. This will reset the craft after the crash, giving you a brand new one to fly again.

Flight Controls
Flight controls in Apollo are as follows.


 * [[Image:Controls.png]]

First, there is the throttle control (labeled 1 in the image above). For the descent phases of the mission, this goes from zero to full forward, corresponding to the bottom and top of the screen, respectively. For the command module docking, though, it goes from full backward to full forward, with zero thrust found in the center of its range.

Next is the yaw control (labeled 2 in the image above). When in the center, it does not effect the craft's motion. When dragged left, it pushes the lander's nose to the left, and when dragged right, it pushes the nose right.

The translational thrusters (whose control is labeled 3 in the previous image) serve to push the lander's entire body up, down, left, or right. Drag this control in the direction that the craft should move.

Finally, the lander's pitch and roll are controlled as in other X-Plane Mobile apps—tilt the iPhone or iPod forward to pitch the nose down, tilt it back to pitch the nose up, and tilt it left or right to roll the craft in the corresponding direction.

Vehicle Controls
Controlling the lunar rover is quite intuitive. Simply tilt the device forward to accelerate, tilt it back to brake, and tilt it left or right to turn in that direction.

Menu and View Options
The menu and view options in X-Plane Apollo function very similarly to those in Space Shuttle and the rest of the X-Plane Mobile applications.

To access these options, tap near the center of the screen.


 * [[Image:Apollo_menu.png]]

The view option labeled 1 in the image above selects the HUD view, putting the user in the cockpit of the lander.

The view option labeled 2 in the previous image selects the external view. Hit that, then drag your finger around on the screen to adjust the viewing angle. To zoom out, put two fingers down far apart on the screen and drag them closer together. To zoom in, put two fingers on the screen close together and drag them apart.

The view option labeled 3 in the previous image is the spot view. Selecting this will give the user a stationary view to watch from as the aircraft flies by.

The option labeled 4 in the previous image selects the linear spot view, in which the camera takes a constant-speed trajectory to match the aircraft's flight path. This is like the view a pilot would have when flying formation with the user if that pilot were to turn around and look at the user’s aircraft.

The Settings menu is opened by tapping the button labeled 6 in the previous image. This is described in depth in the following section.

Finally, the button labeled 6 in the previous image pauses the simulation.

The Settings Menu
There are three tabs at the top of this screen: the Mission tab, the Images tab, and the Settings tab, as seen in the following image:


 * [[Image:Apollo settings menu.gif]]

In the Mission tab, users select between the available mission segments. To begin a mission segment, tap the button with its name, then tap the Go! button in the bottom left. To cancel this selection, simply press the Back button in the upper left corner of the screen.

The Mission tab is also where you can reset a flight after a crash. Upon crashing, open the settings menu, which will come to the Mission tab by default. Tap one of the mission segment buttons to “fix” your virtual spacecraft and start a new flight.

Selecting the Images tab will display the historical photos. Use the PREV and NEXT buttons to cycle through these, and press the DONE button to return to the Mission tab.

The Settings tab allows the user to change the phone or iPod’s “control calibration.” Just hold the device at the desired angle and tap the Set Current Phone Tilts as Center button to make the current attitude of the phone or iPod the point for which elevator input is zero. This lets the user fly with the phone in his or her lap when sitting or standing, or held vertical when lying down—kind of convenient!

Additionally in this tab, users can drag the volume slider up or down on preference. The default volume is 50%.