Rocket Rangler

This is a game / science education app that simulates a rocket and satellite moving in space, in the vicinity of the Earth, subject to the “1/r2" law of universal gravitation and Newton’s laws of motion.

HERE'S HOW THE GAME WORKS … You can directly control the rocket, but not the satellite. Your mission is to
1) Pilot the rocket to pick up the satellite by passing over it.
2) Release (DROP) the satellite into a stable, “near Earth” orbit. 3) You must avoid crashing the rocket or satellite into the Earth or allowing the satellite to drift off screen.

You manipulate the rocket with a joystick. The more it’s displaced, the greater the rocket’s acceleration in that direction. To slow or stop the rocket you must accelerate it in the direction opposite to its motion (decelerate). The gravitational force acts at all times getting weaker the farther the rocket is from the Earth.

There are four game levels: Ensign, Lieutenant, Commander and Captain. With each increase in rank, the game’s objects move faster and the joystick becomes more sensitive.

THERE ARE SIX, SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT, "MISSIONS" ...
ORBIT - (default on opening the app) Starts with rocket in an inner orbit, the satellite revolving further out.
BLASTOFF - The rocket is launched upward from the Earth as the satellite passes overhead.
LAUNCH - Launches a satellite in circular orbit. The rocket can enter from random positions, at random speeds from the edges of the screen.
FALL - The rocket and satellite appear at the upper left of the screen at rest relative to the Earth, then are accelerated towards the Earth by gravity.
TAPPING THE SCREEN - Touching the screen places a rocket at rest at the point of the tap. Initially at rest, it accelerates towards the Earth by gravity. The satellite is already onboard waiting to be dropped.
FLICKING THE SCREEN - Launches the rocket in the location and in the direction of the flick. Its initial velocity is determined by how fast you flick. The satellite is launched into orbit from the Earth. This is similar to LAUNCH, but lets you pick the rocket’s location.

SCORING At the end of any game a score is awarded based upon your rank, manipulation of the rocket, fuel remaining and satellite drop in close orbit around the Earth

At the end of any game a score is awarded based upon your rank, manipulation of the rocket, fuel remaining and satellite drop in close orbit around the Earth.

Recent changes:
Minor font changes to prevent screen shifting when game is played.