January 9, 2026
Launch hype, phone gripe
Show HN: Rocket Launch and Orbit Simulator
Fans crown it better than the big space game, but phones and physics spark fights
TLDR: A new browser-based rocket simulator wowed Hacker News, with some calling it better than Kerbal’s sequel. The crowd loves the concept but debates phone usability, a sideways launch quirk, and a near-but-not-100 km “edge of space,” signaling big potential if the dev polishes physics and mobile support.
A fresh “Show HN” demo just dropped: a Rocket Launch and Orbit Simulator with sliders, stats, and a big Guided Launch button. The community instantly split into cheering fans and nitpicky flight directors. One camp is gushing, calling it “Much better than KSP2”, a spicy jab at the troubled sequel to Kerbal Space Program. Another camp is on bug patrol: “Why is it launching with a horizontal velocity?” asked one user, accusing the rocket of sliding sideways even when pointed straight up.
The vibe is classic Hacker News: polite claps mixed with forensic scrutiny. A mobile warrior chimed in with, “low-hanging fruit… mobile responsiveness,” saying phone testing felt rough—like trying to pilot a rocket with oven mitts. Nerds swooned over the math, with “Did you do all the math yourself?” turning into a mini flex moment for the dev. And then came the space pedants: the simulator marks the Kármán line—the commonly used edge of space—around 98–99 km, and they want that tiny tweak to hit the traditional 100 km.
Bottom line: the crowd sees huge potential, strong vibes, and meme-worthy shade at KSP2. Phones and physics need love, but the hype is real, and the launch feels like it’s already clearing the tower.
Key Points
- •The simulator provides a comprehensive telemetry panel with launch and orbital metrics initialized at T+00:00:00.
- •A pitch program displays target and current pitch values, starting at 90°, with guidance recommendations.
- •Manual Control allows pitch adjustment via W/S keys while receiving guidance suggestions.
- •Guided Launch mode enables users to set a target altitude with automated flight control.
- •Orbital Mode lets users spawn in orbit and perform orbital burns to practice orbital mechanics.