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SunlitZelkova -> RE: CMO RUNNING POLL - Gameplay feature requests (7/18/2021 12:36:28 AM)
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Before I make my request I would like to note this is by no means intended to be a high-priority request. It is something that would be nice to have, but I am not "demanding" it. If it seems to be unneeded or unworkable, I myself do not wish for you to pursue it.
I would like to request the expansion of space operations. This would include the following-
1. Launch of spacecraft
2. Orbital ASAT systems/space combat
3. Adjustable orbits
4. Space strike systems (X-20 Dynasoar bomber variants, SDI orbital ABM platforms, etc.)
Launch of spacecraft would entail being able to launch spacecraft (satellites and crewed spacecraft) into orbit.
Orbital ASAT systems and space combat would be the addition of such units. The USSR and Russia have their own series of orbital ASAT systems. The USSR possessed the IS inspector/killer satellite, while Russia currently continues to work on the Nivelir inspector/killer satellite project. The US and USSR each had their own proposals for crewed ASAT spacecraft, and these could be implemented as hypothetical units in the Cold War DB.
Adjustable orbits would be as it is- the ability to control the orbits of spacecraft. Rather than manually controlling the orbit similar to how altitude and speed are for aircraft, it would be best to implement it as a control panel where one simply types the parameters in (apogee, perigee, eccentricity, etc.) to change it. Of course, it would be absurd to require players to learn orbital mechanics just to use the system, so missions, that is, missions that can be created using the mission editor, would be available to use for satellites. There is only one type of mission I can think of right off the bat- Intercept. Intercept would have the player simply select a target spacecraft, similar to setting up a land strike mission, and the game would automatically calculate the maneuvers needed to intercept the target. This would avoid forcing the player to make complex calculations to attack an enemy satellite.
Doctrine would be available for spacecraft. The only doctrine setting I can think of as of this post is "Avoid Contact". Much like the setting for ASW warfare, this will tell the satellites to avoid contact with enemy satellites. So for example, if the orbit is set to cross with an enemy satellite- potentially an inspector/killer satellite- the friendly satellite will move out of the way in advance.
Space strike systems would entail the addition of satellites and spacecraft armed with weapons intended to strike targets on Earth. For example, spaceplane bombers have been proposed- namely the X-20 Dynasoar. There are Soviet counterparts that may have been intended to carry strike weapons as well. In addition, the SDI program envisioned a number of orbital ABM platforms designed to destroy ICBMs. These could be added too.
There would be three types of spacecraft within the DB- Satellite and Spaceplane. Satellites consist of both uncrewed satellites (KH-11, RORSATs, etc.), conventional spacecraft like the Apollo CSM and Soyuz, and space stations. Due to their similar nature, they are included all together.
Spaceplane would be similar to submarines in that they are capable of travel/operations in two environments- in the case of subs, underwater and on the surface, in the case of spaceplanes, in space and in the atmosphere. Spaceplanes are capable of diving into the atmosphere to use aerodynamic maneuvers to adjust their orbit- or to release weapons on a target. Spaceplanes would also be capable of landing at an airport- and if the launch pad unit is grouped as part of the air base, perhaps being serviced and then sent back into combat (launched again), although such a feature is not a necessary part of this request.
Two core mechanics would be that of launch and reentry. Reentry would be a set altitude at which satellites cease to function. This would be 100km for sake of standardization. 100km is the internationally recognized boundary of space, and in any case, none of the spacecraft that would be added to CMO have real life orbits below this limit. Upon hitting the 100km boundary, the spacecraft will simply be destroyed, and a message will appear in the message log indicated it has reentered the atmosphere and is breaking up. No in game mechanic will be added to simulate crewed space capsules splashing down/landing, however, two units- a facility and a ship- could be added; Generic Space Capsule (Soyuz, Shenzhou, Starliner), which would be a facility represented a landed space capsule, and Generic Space Capsule (Apollo, Gemini), which would be a ship similar to the recently added debris units (lost shipping container, buoy) that could drift. Both would be targets to task the player with recovery of the capsules, or targets for players to destroy or capture the capsules. Lua could be used to spawn these units in the vicinity of where the corresponding spacecraft in the scenario reentered, to simulate both reentry and splash down.
Launch would be done through a control panel, much like orbital adjustments. The direction of the launch, orbital parameters, and eccentricity would be adjustable. The launch from then on would be completely automatic, with no player input needed.
Both the launch and orbital adjustment control panels would be similar to the altitude/speed control panel/window. Although a launch/finished button could be added for the launch and orbital adjustment windows respectively, simply closing the window will apply the changes/initiate the launch.
I suggest the following spacecraft to be added in addition to the satellites already present in game-
Satellites-
14F150 Nivelir [Napryazhenie] Interceptor Satellite with Soyuz 2.1v rocket (Info- https://www.thespacereview.com/article/3709/1)
IS Interceptor Satellite with Tsyklon-2A rocket (Info- http://www.russianspaceweb.com/is.html)
14F10 IS-MU Interceptor Satellite [LEO] with Tsyklon-2A rocket (Info- http://www.russianspaceweb.com/is.html)
75P6 IS-MD Interceptor Satellite [GEO] with Tsyklon-2A rocket (Info- http://www.russianspaceweb.com/is.html)
*SDI Orbital ABM Satellites* - There are a number of these, so I cannot make a list at this time
Space stations-
Manned Orbiting Laboratory (1971, Cancelled) with Titan IIIM rocket (this was an Air Force space station, with a return capsule derived from the Gemini spacecraft)
Skylab with Saturn V rocket (this could theoretically serve as a very basic/primitive photoreconnaissance platform)
Salyut 3 [OPS, Almaz] with Proton-K rocket (this was a military space station equipped with full fledged reconnaissance equipment and a 23mm cannon for self-defence)
OPS-4 [Almaz], Grounded with Proton-K rocket (this was the next version of the Almaz military space station. It was equipped with SAR, a built in crew return capsule, and the Shield-2 grenade system for self-defence)
Spacecraft-
*Various Soyuz transport variants* (a number of variants have been used over time for space station transport, I cannot make a list at this time)
Apollo CSM and Saturn IB rocket
Soyuz PPK and 11A511 Soyuz rocket (Info- http://www.astronautix.com/s/soyuzppk.html)
Spaceplanes-
X-20 Dynasoar (1963, Cancelled) and Titan IIIM rocket (this would come in two versions: Dynasoar II, a reconnaissance variant, and Dynasoar III, a bomber variant)
Although most of the Cold War era vehicles are hypothetical, I do think that the DB3000 could benefit from the addition of Soviet and Russian ASAT satellites, while the hypothetical SDI platforms would be interesting to have as well. Such "space-space" combat, as the Soviets referred to it as, has become more and more likely, and therefore I think there is reason to consider the addition of it into CMO.
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