569 lines
12 KiB
ReStructuredText
569 lines
12 KiB
ReStructuredText
********
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Features
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********
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Current features (as of OpenRocket 23.09):
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==========================================
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General
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-------
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* Fully cross-platform, written in Java
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* `Fully documented simulation methods <https://openrocket.info/documentation.html>`__
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* Open Source (see our `GitHub repository <https://github.com/openrocket/openrocket>`), source code available under the `GNU GPL <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt>`__
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* Export OpenRocket design file to other simulation programs (RockSim, RASAero II)
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* Export component(s) to OBJ file for 3D printing
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* Extensible with custom simulation listeners, expressions, and plugins
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User Interface
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--------------
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* **Intuitive user interface**
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* **Real-time view of CG and CP** position
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* **Real-time flight altitude, velocity and acceleration** information from a continuous simulation performed in the background
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* Zoomable schematic view of rocket from the side or rear, with rotation around the center axis
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Design
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------
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* A multitude of available components to choose from
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* **Trapezoidal, elliptical, free-form and tube fins** supported
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* Support for **canted** fins (roll stabilization)
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* **Staging** and **clustering** support
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* **Pods** support
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* Automatic calculation of component mass and CG based on shape and density
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* Ability to **override mass, CG and CD** of components or stages separately
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Simulation and Analysis
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-----------------------
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* Full **six degree of freedom** simulation
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* Rocket stability computed using **extended Barrowman** method
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* **Automatic design optimization** — *you can optimize any number of rocket parameters for flight altitude, maximum velocity or a number of other values*
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* Realistic wind modeling
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* Analysis of the **effect of separate components** on the stability, drag and roll characteristics of the rocket
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* **Fully configurable plotting**, with various preset configurations
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* Simulation data can be **exported to CSV** files for further analysis
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* **Simulation listeners** allowing custom-made code to interact with the rocket during flight simulation
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.. raw:: html
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<hr />
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Planned Future Features
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=======================
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.. note::
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OpenRocket is under constant work in the free time of the developers. If you want to **help improve it**, please refer to the :doc:`Contribute page </introduction/contribute>`.
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Below are a few major features that are under consideration:
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* Better support for transonic and supersonic simulations (:doc:`help needed! </introduction/contribute>`)
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* Monte Carlo simulation for dispersion analysis
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* Simulate fin flutter
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* Customized support for hybrid rocket motors and water rockets
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* Importing and plotting actual flight data from altimeters
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* Rocket flight animation
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* A “wizard” for creating new rocket designs
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* More advanced rocket optimization methods
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* Import CD and CP data from other programs (e.g. RASAero)
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For a full overview of the planned features, please refer to the `GitHub issue tracker <https://github.com/openrocket/openrocket/issues>`__.
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.. raw:: html
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<hr />
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Comparison to RockSim
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=====================
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`RockSim <https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket_Software/RockSim>`__ is a very powerful, commercial rocket design and simulation program.
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It is more advanced than OpenRocket in some regards, but its price tag of $124 makes it inaccessible to many hobbyists.
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OpenRocket is free, and the source code is available for modification by anyone.
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To help you decide which program is right for you, we have compiled a comparison of the features of OpenRocket 23.09 and RockSim 10 below.
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While hosted on the OpenRocket documentation, we have attempted to make this an objective comparison between the functionality
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of the two software products. If you think something is wrong or omitted, please `contact us <https://openrocket.info/contact.html>`__.
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General
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-------
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.. list-table:: OpenRocket vs. RockSim: General
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:widths: 20 20 20
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:header-rows: 1
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:class: or-table
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* -
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- OpenRocket
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- RockSim
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* - License
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Open Source (GPLv3)
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-poor
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| Proprietary
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* - Price
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Free
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-poor
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| $124
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* - Supported platforms
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Windows, Mac, Linux
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-okay
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| Windows, Mac
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* - Supported file formats
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| ORK, RKT, CDX1
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-poor
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| RKT
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* - Anti-piracy copy protection
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| None
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-okay
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| `PACE <http://www.paceap.com/>`__
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UI Features
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-----------
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.. list-table:: OpenRocket vs. RockSim: UI Features
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:widths: 20 20 20
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:header-rows: 1
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:class: or-table
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* -
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- OpenRocket
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- RockSim
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* - Side/back view
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - 3D view
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Photorealistic 3D rendering
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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* - Export 3D design
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes (OBJ)
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes (3DS)
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* - Design view rotation
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Any angle
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-poor
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| Side and top only
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* - Live CG/CP view
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Realtime simulation
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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Design Features
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---------------
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.. list-table:: OpenRocket vs. RockSim: Design Features
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:widths: 20 20 20
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:header-rows: 1
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:class: or-table
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* -
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- OpenRocket
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- RockSim
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* - Basic components
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Freeform fins
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Asymmetric fin configurations
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Tube fins
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Ring-tail fins
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Fins attached to fins
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - External pods
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Canted fins / roll stabilization
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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* - Standard component libraries
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Decals
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Clustering support
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes, modifiable
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-okay
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| Yes, one-time wizard only
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* - Staging support
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes, unlimited
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-okay
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| Yes, 3 stages
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Simulation Features
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-------------------
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.. list-table:: OpenRocket vs. RockSim: Simulation Features
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:widths: 20 20 20
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:header-rows: 1
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:class: or-table
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* -
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- OpenRocket
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- RockSim
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* - Degrees of freedom
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| 6DOF
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-okay
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| 3DOF
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* - Geodetic calculation (Earth coordinates, coriolis effect)
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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* - Simulations extensible by own code
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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* - Simulation animation
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Plotting any simulated variables
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Exporting simulated data
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Computing custom variables
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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Optimization and Analysis
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-------------------------
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.. list-table:: OpenRocket vs. RockSim: Optimization and Analysis
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:widths: 20 20 20
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:header-rows: 1
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:class: or-table
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* -
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- OpenRocket
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- RockSim
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* - General design optimization
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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* - Mass optimization
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-okay
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| Yes (using general optimizer)
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Stability analysis
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes, per component
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-okay
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| Yes, per stage
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* - Drag analysis
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes, per component
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-poor
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| Yes, per stage
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* - Roll analysis
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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Printing
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--------
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.. list-table:: OpenRocket vs. RockSim: Printing
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:widths: 20 20 20
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:header-rows: 1
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:class: or-table
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* -
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- OpenRocket
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- RockSim
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* - Schematic view
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Stability information
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Simulation results
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Parts list
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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* - Component templates
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Nose cone, fin sets, centering rings
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Nose cone, fin sets, centering rings
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* - Fin placement guide
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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* - Export to PDF
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-good
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| Yes
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- .. cssclass:: or-table-cell, or-table-bad
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| No
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