You are an astronaut traveling through the galaxy. An encounter with a wormhole has hurled your spacecraft back to Earth's solar system. You have lost your bearings and the trip through the wormhole has damaged some of your instruments. You know you are orbiting somewhere in Earth's solar system and that you are not in orbit around Earth. You could be orbiting one of the other planets, or Earth's Moon. You need to pinpoint your location and call for help.
The instruments on your cockpit panel tell you about the planet you are orbiting. Each instrument needs a certain amount of power, and the power supply is limited. Try to use as few instruments as possible.
You can click on the planet guide buttons at the bottom of the screen to look up information. If you go to a planet guide, clicking on the return arrow will bring you back to the instrument panel.
When you think you know where you are, click on the radio. The radio will change to transmit mode and the screen to the right will activate. Use the arrow keys to select a location on the screen. Then click on the radio again to transmit your location.
When you are rescued, a new game begins. You can leave the game at any time by returning to the Main Menu.
Turn the page for information on how to read the instruments on your cockpit panel.
Good Luck!
COCKPIT PANEL INSTRUMENTS
Note: You can turn instruments on, but not off.
Power Bar
Your power supply is limited. You need to save some power for life support until you are rescued. Each instrument on the cockpit panel uses power except the radio. The fewer instruments you use, the less power you will use.
Rings
Clicking on this switch will add rings to the planet graphic on the right if the planet has a ring system. This instrument is working correctly.
Moons
Clicking on this switch will add moons to the planet graphic on the right if the planet has moons. If the planet does not have a moon, the display will remain blank.
This instrument is not working correctly. It does not display the exact number of moons. If the planet has between one and nine moons, moons will appear and disappear around the display. If the planet has ten or more moons, ten moons will appear on the display.
Distance
This dial is supposed to indicate the distance from the planet you are orbiting to the Sun. However, the instrument is not working correctly. The indicator wavers. You are only able to get a range for the distance from the Sun.
The dial will indicate if your ship is:
√° less than 100 million miles from
the Sun
√° between 100 and 1000 million
miles from the Sun
√° more than 1000 million miles
from the Sun.
Length of Day
This dial is supposed to indicate the length of a day on the planet you are orbiting. However, the instrument is malfunctioning. The indicator wavers. You are only able to get a range for the length of the day.
The dial will indicate if a day on the planet is:
√° less than 20 Earth hours
√° between 20 and 40 Earth hours
√° more than 40 Earth hours.
Sky Color
Clicking this button tells you what color the sky looks like as seen from space. This indicator is working correctly. Some planets have a variable sky color depending on where you look. This instrument determines the color of a small area. So, it is not always very helpful. That is, if the indicator shows yellow, you won't know if that is the color of the whole sky, or if the instrument is focused on a yellow area. There could be other colors in the sky around the planet.
Temperature
This gauge is supposed to indicate the surface temperature on the planet you are orbiting. This
instrument is not working properly. The indicator wavers. You are only able to get a range for the temperature.
The gauge will indicate if the temperature is:
√° less than negative 200 degrees
Fahrenheit
√° between negative 200 and 200
degrees Fahrenheit
√° more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
The temperature on some planets varies throughout the planet's day. Since you do not know if the temperature is for the day or the night side of the planet, this information is not always helpful.
Magnetic Field
This instrument indicates the strength of the magnetic field of the planet you are orbiting. This instrument is working correctly. You are able to determine if the field is strong, medium, weak, or does not exist.
Gravity
This instrument shows the strength of the planet's gravitational pull in terms of the weight of your ship. This instrument is working correctly. You are able to determine if your ship weighs less than it does on Earth, the same as on Earth, or more than on Earth.
Atmosphere
Clicking on the green button draws a sample of the atmosphere. This instrument is working correctly.
Clicking on the buttons underneath the gas tube test for carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H), methane (CH4), or nitrogen (N). If the gas is present in the sample, the bulb next to its label will glow green. If the gas isn't present, the bulb will glow red.