Docking with a Space Station — Deepening Your Understanding of the Laws of Motion Through Spacecraft Control —

　 Vector Navigator　 Position Navigator　　 Beginner *　 Intermediate **　 Advanced ***
　 Sound　　

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Description :

This page is designed to help you deepen your understanding of the laws of motion using a spacecraft docking simulator.
    In preparation for a journey to the Moon, the lunar lander Newton must dock with a space station. Your mission is to remotely control the Newton and safely dock it at the designated location on the space station within the target time.
    Use the Controller to adjust the rocket thrust, and guide the spacecraft to dock at the specified position (marked by the red light) at a safe speed before the fuel runs out. To succeed, you will need to apply your understanding of the relationship between velocity and acceleration, equations of motion, and the law of inertia.
    If you complete the docking successfully, your score will be displayed.
    Good luck!

(Tip)
    Because the spacecraft is in orbit, it is in a state of weightlessness. Therefore, unless rocket thrust is applied, the Newton will continue moving at a constant velocity in a straight line, in accordance with the law of inertia. When thrust is applied, a force acts on the spacecraft, producing acceleration according to the equation of motion, which in turn changes its velocity. Carefully consider how acceleration affects velocity when adjusting the speed. Applying short, frequent bursts of thrust is an effective way to fine-tune the velocity.
(Note)
    In this simulator, the motion of the Newton is restricted to a two-dimensional plane on the screen, and rotational motion of the spacecraft is not considered. Changes in the spacecraft’s mass due to fuel consumption are also neglected.
    On some devices or browsers, sound may not play correctly. On Mac computers, sound may not work properly in Safari, while it has been confirmed to work correctly in Chrome.

●You can start the simulation at different difficulty levels by selecting Beginner *, Intermediate **, or Advanced ***.
●You can control the rocket thrust by moving the lever of the Controller at the bottom right with a mouse or your finger.
●The Time and Target Time are displayed at the top right. If the elapsed time exceeds the target time, your evaluation score will decrease. Try to dock within the target time as much as possible.
●The graph on the right shows the thrust force, speed, and remaining fuel. When the speed graph turns green, the spacecraft can dock safely.
●By checking the Vector Navigator at the bottom, the force vector (red) and velocity vector (blue) of the lander are displayed to help with navigation.
●By checking the Position Navigator, a position indicator appears, allowing you to fine-tune the docking position accurately.
●You can mute the sound by unchecking Sound. (Depending on your environment, sound may not play correctly.)

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