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Meco Rocket Simulator
Meco Rocket Simulator is a realistic physics game where you play as an underpaid rocket scientist working for Mecodyne to design and test rocket engines without regard for your safety.
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Release Date:
Coming soon
Developer:
Publisher:
Open Space Launch Foundation

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Features
Single-player
Profile Features Limited 
Languages:
Interface Full Audio Subtitles
English ✔ ✔

Early Access Game

Get instant access and start playing; get involved with this game as it develops.

Note: This Early Access game is not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development. Learn more

What the developers have to say:

Why Early Access?

“It is a complex niche game that depends on a cult following to give feedback to make it relevant.

I have a pathological need to get rocket engine simulation into the hands of as many people as I can as fast as possible.

It already has three years put into it, and now is the time to gather and reflect on what others think about it.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“1 to 3 years. Maybe...”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The longer-term plan is to have the following features:
  • Tutorials
  • 3D Engine Builder
  • Campaigns
  • Simulated Space Missions
  • Components for Expander Cycle and Staged Combustion Engines

The above will likely evolve as the community chimes in on what rocks their world and what doesn't.

For the Simulated Space Missions, it will not be Kerbal-style grab the joystick/smash the keys seat of the pants execution. Key mission parameters will be planned before launch and followed. As a bad analogy - Meco is to Kerbal what Football Manager 2023 is to FIFA 23.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Currently, I am working primarily on the Core Simulation Loop, which features the following:
  • Rocket engine components sufficient to design most gas generator cycle cryogenic regeneratively cooled engines.
  • 2D Node Graph for assembling components into an engine.
  • Component Editor to view and edit component properties.
  • Methods-Of-Characteristics Nozzle Designer
  • Simulated Engine Test Fire
  • Test Fire Data Interactive Graphs

Note:
    [*[ At this point, features are minimal,
  • I do my best to make quality software; it will likely be buggy.
  • Only Gas Generator Cycle is supported right now, with Expander Cycle coming next.

These are the components currently available in-game:
  • Liquid and Gas Channels, Pipes, and Ducts.
  • Fittings for Pipes and Ducts (Elbows, T-junctions, etc.)
  • Liquid and Gas Valves (Controlled by points set in time)
  • Supersonic Turbines
  • Centrifugal Pump
  • Electric Motor
  • Transmission with gear ratio to couple the above 3 components
  • Coaxial Shear Injector
  • Combustion Simulation for Hydrolox (Kerolox next)
  • Conduction of Heat from Gas to Metal to Liquid in Cooling Channels
  • Converging-Diverging Truncated Ideal Bell Nozzle and Rectangular Ideal Nozzle

Notable things missing:
  • Ignition - It is assumed that the oxidizer and fuel will ignite when they mix in the combustion chamber.
  • Fuel Tanks - The simulation is supplied with a never-ending supply of oxidizer or fuel at a set pressure.
  • Combustion Instability and Lag
  • 3D assembly of components
  • Failure due to thermal meltdowns and loads exceeding the limits of components.
  • Mass representation of most components - useful to get the thrust-to-weight ratio of an engine.
”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Yes.

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Yeah, but seriously, it's about economies of scale; the more copies I can sell, the cheaper the game can be. The Early Access is discounted between 20% to 40%.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“”
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About This Game



This game is still in Early Access. A good deal of features below are still in development and unavailable. Please see the Early Access notes above.

Design & Test Rocket Engines Interactively

Meco Rocket Simulator introduces rocket engine concepts in a fun way to inspire budding rocket engineers/scientists to support our multi-planetary future. For realism, Meco crunches the numbers using principles from well-cited research and published practitioners.

The Rocket Engine Simulator for Interactive Design

Say goodbye to pages of endless numbers and equations because you’ll see the outcome of your design choices in seconds. It’s a fun way to learn – perfect for next-gen engineers and scientists to have fun while learning to be trailblazers in our multi-planetary future.

On the Shoulders of Giants

Play campaigns with missions based on real-life events. For example, build and simulate rocket engines that show:
  • How the USA developed the Redstone-Mercury rocket engine, which in essence, sent the first American to Space.
  • Progression of SpaceX’s improvements to Merlin Engines, in particular, from Falcon 1 to Falcon 9 full-thrust.
  • Development of engines for the Saturn V moon rocket that were exceptionally reliable despite the technology available at the time.
  • How the Europa I/II Rocket engines were developed, which enabled Europe’s first orbit-capable Launch Vehicle.

Detailed Fluid and Combustion Simulation

Meco’s detailed simulation allows you to observe the following:
  • Gas and liquids flow in lines and ducts due to pressure and friction.
  • Ignition, throttle and shutdown sequences following value valve timings.
  • Thrust chamber and nozzle temperatures following regenerative, film and ablative cooling.
  • Evaluate the pros and cons resulting from gas generator, expander, and other engine cycles.
  • Nozzle gas exit velocity and flow separation change when the shape of the nozzle is changed.
  • Lastly, get the expected engine thrust, efficiency, and ISP readings to evaluate your design.

Comprehensive Design Options

Meco has features you need to build a rocket engine model for first approximation simulation.
  • Find out engine limits when different materials are used to create its parts.
  • Test fuel, oxidizer and coolant combinations and their trade-offs.
  • Try different igniter and valve types with their advantages and disadvantages.
  • Design injectors, pumps, turbines, gearboxes, thrust chambers and nozzles while being challenged by physical constraints.

True-To-Life Rocket Engine Simulation

Meco has been validated against real-life engine operational data and matches them to within a few percent, hence you can be assured Meco gives you realistic performance numbers.
  • Change your design in order to get desired pressure, temperature and flow rate readings.
  • Tweak combustion properties which change correspondingly with oxidizer-fuel ratio and pressure.
  • Find out safety margins when there are thermal and load stresses on parts.
  • Test performance at different atmospheric pressures.
  • Replay and zoom in to a particular spot in time when you need more data.

Analyze

  • Pressure and flow of gas and liquids
  • Combustion Temperature and properties
  • Thermal and Load Stresses on parts
  • Performance at different Atmospheric Pressures
  • Replay and zoom-in to a particular spot in time

Examples to Learn from Included

Get into simulation quickly – pre-built and ready-to-simulate engines include:
  • Rocketdyne F-1, which powered the Saturn V
  • SpaceX Merlin 1D employed on the Falcon 9
  • Vulcain by Snecma Moteurs found on the Arianespace Ariane 5
  • RL-10A used by ULA Centaur originally made by Pratt & Whitney

Embrace Your Inner Rocket Scientist - Learn to Design Rocket Engines Step-By-Step


For Child Prodigies, Senior Enthusiasts and Everyone in Between
Start with cold-gas thrusters, or dive right into Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines (LPRE). If your quest to learn some rocket science, Meco is at your side.

The Whole Is Greater than The Sum of Its Parts
While Meco can handle dozens of sub-systems required to simulate a rocket engine, we can tinker with each sub-system individually and put them all together when we are ready.

Master and Build Intuition
See how engineering and scientific laws come together and build a complete understanding of the part they play.

Do or Do Not. There Is No Try
Overcome the challenges and feel accomplished. There are reasons why rocket science has a reputation for not being easy, but you are in good company.

System Requirements

Windows
macOS
SteamOS + Linux
    Minimum:
    • OS: Windows 10
    • Processor: 3 GHz
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: GeForce 8 series/ATI Radeon 4000 series/Intel HD Graphics 4000 or higher
    • DirectX: Version 10
    • Storage: 1 GB available space
    Minimum:
    • OS: macOS 10.15
    • Processor: 3 GHz
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: GeForce 8 series/ATI Radeon 2000 series/Intel HD Graphics 4000 or higher
    • Storage: 1 GB available space
* Starting February 15, 2024, the Steam Client will no longer support 32-bit games or macOS 10.14 or lower.
    Minimum:
    • OS: Ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS
    • Processor: 3 GHz
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: GeForce 8 series/ATI Radeon 2000 series/Intel HD Graphics 4000 or higher
    • Storage: 1 GB available space
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