Shuttle Mission Simulator

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The Shuttle Mission Simulator (SMS) consists of two simulators in Building 5 of Johnson Space Center. The fixed-base simulator includes a high-fidelity mock up of the flight deck of a Space Shuttle, as well as a low-fidelity mock up of the middeck. The motion-base simulator consists of front flight deck of the Space Shuttle. It can be tilted and shaken for increased realism, as well as tilted 90 degrees on its back for launch simulations. Before a flight, astronauts will log many hours in these two simulators. In both simulators, computer screens simulate the views out the windows, and every switch and key is modeled realistically. Simulator technicians can input numerous failures and problems to verify that astronauts can cope before a flight.

[edit] Landing Simulator

The Space Shuttle Landing simulator

The Space Shuttle Landing simulator is a Modified Gulfstream II Business Jet. The Cockpit laid out to mimic the cockpit of a Space Shuttle Orbiter. The computer controls the airspeed and the auto-throttle controls the engines, this keeps the airspeed low and therefore more realistic as the shuttle has no power when landing. ^[1]