10-18-2016, 03:34 PM
(10-17-2016, 11:10 AM)Mandella Wrote: This also explains why you lock the sun in one position in LEO -- it would be pretty dizzying in a real scale. It does bring up the question of whether it would be worth the effort to simulate a sun-synchronous low orbit for your game. Not as cost effective to get to and fro, but nice for the constant solar power and lighting.
You're right about the locked sun in the external view. But, I'm a bit embarrassed to say, we never considered a sun-synchronous low orbit! The equatorial orbit is pretty ideal from a radiation point of view, because you are deep within the magnetosphere and avoid the South Atlantic Anomaly.
But you're right, the advantages of constant sunlight could be substantial. I will need to look into this more! Thank you for suggesting it.
Joe Strout
Lead Developer, High Frontier