Shuttle: The Space Flight Simulator

Shuttle: The Space Flight Simulator is a 1992 DOS simulation that attempts to recreate the complicated business of flying the Space Shuttle. Players must deal with procedures, controls, navigation, and the many technical details involved in launching, maneuvering, and returning a spacecraft safely to Earth. This is not a casual arcade flight game where you press one button and immediately become an astronaut. The learning curve can be steep, but that is also the point: operating a shuttle is supposed to be complicated. The simulation gives players a taste of the discipline required for real spaceflight, complete with the uncomfortable possibility that one incorrect decision can ruin the entire mission. It is a fascinating product of an era when computer simulations were willing to throw intimidating technical manuals at players and say, essentially, “good luck.” For space enthusiasts, that challenge is part of the appeal. Houston, we have a learning curve.