Space Shuttle Expansion for Flight Simulator X - PC

I have loaded and looked around this software but have not actually used all of its features that it has in real time yet. What I have seen of it seems fairly realistic coming from someone who is not an astronaut and has not had a ride on the real thing. That being said, I am a NASA fan and one of my subjects of deep study has led me to be extremely involved with the Space Transportation System. I have acquired real NASA manuals for the Orbiter and how it works along with its missions. I have also been involved with everything Microsoft Flight Sim has done over the past 17 years. Should I have observed something that is not true to what I wrote, I will correct my review and give out huge apologies. In the mean time, what I have seen, what I have read, and checking out some of the config files leads me to say that this is fairly realistic and can give anyone who sets the game to realistic settings instead of novice settings, a huge rush along with hours of enjoyment is destine to be had. Some people think that this is a space simulator and when they find out its not, they tend to give poor reviews. The real Space Shuttle is simply a glider that piggy backs a ride up to very high altitudes, has a little power to maneuver for docking or birthing purposes, and then powered by gravity, basically glides to a predefined landing strip usually being Kennedy Space Center. The pilots control the decent, not so much the arrival to its destination. The lift off is all automatic, the people inside are just along for the ride for the most part, they are not flying the machine so you are not going to find any controls to taking off. Including the video of take off ride was kind of cool in my opinion. Just like the astronauts who practice flying the real Orbiter, they learn in stages, not to far off the way this software does in 3 major scenarios. Microsoft Flight Sim has always been a blast and now that the ceiling has been increased to something beyond low earth orbit, this Space Shuttle Software can be practiced in a realistic environment. I hope this review will help in a positive way for anyone who has an interest in the Space Shuttle as a hobby and in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The two together is a decent match. In the words of Astronaut Scott Carpenter, "God Speed.....everyone"!

I bought this thinking it was going to be at least an ok game, but I was wrong. After I installed it, it worked fine. But, the game itself is awful! Graphics are chopy at best, (and graphics are not a problem with my pc.) Also, it only gives you 3 missions, and all 3 are boring and stupid.. Waste of time and money, and the game made my computer run slow, and seem like it was going to freeze but it didn't.... This game is pointless as is anything from justflight... I will NEVER buy from them again! If I didn't open the box I would have sent it back, but instead I wasted my hard earned money on garbage.... So a word of advise DO NOT BUY THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't have any install issues, but there are some controller issues. The graphics are low rent and well below the standards found in FSX. I have some flight sims that are half the price of this one and twice as good. I'm kicking myself for not reading the product reviews, before buying it. Don't buy it!

I love this add-on for flight simulator X, the only con is that doesn't include clear instructions for the game, you have to figure it out on your own. Everything else is all right.

Well I honestly have only been able to try it out a couple of times. I guess because my FSX software has crapped out a few times and so I have reinstalled it at least like eight times by now. So I really don't notice I even have this installed on my CPU. With the times I have played this expansion game I have liked it! I wish that threw the FSX game you could actually use the shuttles singly with out the boosters and fly it just the shuttle. Every time I have wanted to use the shuttles with FSX they just sit there on the run way and wont move :( or if I start the shuttle in the air they just free fall kind of stupid..

Amazing graphics of the Shuttle. Great rentry heat simulating. Great simulation of drag chute, payload bay, robotic arm, virtual cockpit, and the inside of the shuttle.All 5 star but I can't seem to get a tow plane to bring me into the air.

This just doesn't work. After installing, uninstalling, reinstalling, troubleshooting, browsing the forums, and banging my head against the wall for several hours, it still doesn't work. I distinctly remember reading the other reviews and thinking, "It couldn't possibly be that bad!" It was, and still is, despite sucking up valuable time I did not have to spare. I got a couple of minutes of pretty simulated Space Shuttle launches, crashing and unresponsive controls, and absolutely no improvement. In short, save your money for something that actually works!

The sound and graphics are good. I had to revert to windows 8.1 to get it to work. Installation was difficult at best. I had to buy a new flight simulator as an adjunct. Instructions are nil. I have yet to find all of the features and when I do find a feature it is difficult to revisit.I do not recommend.