Does FSX include the Space Shuttle, and how do you fly it?

No. Microsoft Flight Simulator X and FSX: Steam Edition do not include a flyable Space Shuttle as a standard aircraft. To fly one, install a compatible FSX Shuttle add-on, then use its supplied flight or launch setup. Flight behaviour is an approximation: FSX was built for atmospheric aircraft, not true orbital simulation.

Is the Space Shuttle included in FSX Gold or Steam Edition?

No FSX retail edition includes the Space Shuttle as a selectable aircraft. Gold Edition combines Deluxe with Acceleration, while Steam Edition includes Acceleration-derived content, but neither adds a flyable Shuttle. Our breakdown of the aircraft supplied with FSX covers the stock fleet.

A Shuttle seen in launch scenery, an effect or a mission is not necessarily flyable. It must have a complete FSX aircraft model, including an aircraft.cfg file and flight-dynamics data, before it can appear in the aircraft selection menu.

Which FSX Space Shuttle add-on should you use?

Choose the add-on according to whether you want a vertical launch or simpler aeroplane-style handling.

Check the package documentation for FSX version requirements. Older boxed-FSX add-ons often work in Steam Edition, but installers, gauges and saved flights may need manual placement in the actual Steam installation rather than an obsolete boxed-FSX folder.

How do you install a Space Shuttle in FSX?

Install the complete package without changing its folder structure, and retain any supplied saved flight needed for vertical launch.

1. Extract the archive to a temporary folder. Read its instructions before moving anything; Shuttle packages vary more than ordinary aircraft add-ons.
2. Copy the supplied folders into the FSX installation. A flyable model normally belongs under SimObjects\Airplanes. Copy included effects, gauges or other supporting files only to the matching FSX folders.
3. Check for an extra nested folder. The Shuttle's main folder should contain aircraft.cfg. A path such as Shuttle\Shuttle\aircraft.cfg commonly prevents the aircraft from appearing.
4. Install the supplied saved flight. A vertical model may depend on a prepared .FLT file to place it upright at the launch pad. Selecting it in an ordinary runway flight can leave it horizontal or make it collapse immediately.
5. Restart FSX and select the aircraft. Use the package's saved launch flight if provided rather than changing its aircraft or location before the first attempt.

For a more suitable visual setting, Cape Canaveral Shuttle launch scenery and effects can provide the launch environment. Scenery alone does not supply a flyable spacecraft.

How do you launch, re-enter and land the Shuttle?

The exact controls depend on the add-on, but the basic technique is a controlled ascent followed by careful energy management during an unpowered return.

1. Begin with the supplied launch flight. Set power and release the vehicle using the commands stated in the add-on documentation. Do not assume an ordinary FSX engine-start checklist will operate simulated rocket motors.
2. Make small corrections during the initial climb. Once established, gradually pitch towards the add-on's recommended ascent attitude so that the Shuttle gains horizontal speed rather than simply climbing vertically.
3. Set up re-entry well before the runway. Start from the altitude and distance given by the package. Bank reversals or shallow S-turns help remove excess energy while keeping the landing site within reach.
4. Use the speed brake to control energy. Shuttle models usually map it to FSX's spoiler or speed-brake command. Avoid relying on conventional flaps unless the documentation specifically assigns them.
5. Align early for a steep final approach. The Shuttle is a heavy glider during landing; if it becomes low or slow, there is no normal powered go-around. Keep the undercarriage retracted until the runway is assured because it adds substantial drag.
6. Flare and touch down at the documented speed. Realism-oriented models approach much faster than light aircraft and may touch down near 200 knots. The add-on's stated figure takes priority because FSX Shuttle flight dynamics differ between packages.

Can an FSX Space Shuttle add-on reach orbit?

An FSX Shuttle can depict a climb into space, but it cannot reproduce a physically accurate orbit using the simulator's standard flight model. FSX does not calculate orbital mechanics, orbital decay or reaction-control behaviour in the way a dedicated spacecraft simulator would.

Some packages imitate orbital flight through custom flight dynamics, effects or extreme-altitude operation. Treat this as a visual simulation; altitude, speed and control response may stop behaving realistically once the vehicle leaves the atmosphere.

Why does the Shuttle not appear or launch vertically?

Missing aircraft usually indicate an installation error, while a horizontal or unstable launch normally means the prepared launch flight was not loaded.

• Not listed in FSX: confirm that aircraft.cfg is directly inside the Shuttle's folder under SimObjects\Airplanes, then restart the simulator.
• Loads on a runway: use the included saved flight instead of creating a new Free Flight session.
• Falls over or crashes immediately: restore the package's original launch location, payload and realism settings. Missing scenery or supporting files can also break the setup.
• No thrust or control response: check the add-on's key assignments. Some models use the normal throttle and spoilers; others rely on custom commands or visual effects.
• Blank panel or failed gauges: an old gauge may be incompatible or installed in the wrong folder. The external model may still fly from the virtual cockpit or another supplied view.