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We know Explorers are an impatient bunch. They like to just get down to business as quickly as possible. We support and applaud that attitude. So here goes. All the basics in a single page: Function Keys Moving around while in Space or in Orbit modes Controlling the position of the Sun Going into orbit around the Moon Landing on the surface Walking around on the surface Examining man made surface objects Free Camera mode: Simulating flying over the surface. When you start Lunar Explorer you are in space looking at the Moon. Pressing the SPACE bar will center the Moon in the screen (in case you get lost) Function Keys: F1 = Context Sensitive Help. Shows basic commands available in current mode F2 = To Show or Hide Menu Icon Buttons F3 = Take a Snapshot (screenshot capture) of the current screen. Saves it to disk. F4 = Toggle through Moon Dial and HUD (Heads Up Display) options. F8 = Autopilot: Takes you directly to Apollo, Surveyor, Soviet Luna sites, and more. F9 = Free Camera mode: Simulates flying above the Lunar surface In Space and in Orbit, the user interface simulates a thrust system: For Forward thrust - press Left Mouse Button (LMB) For Reverse thrust - press Right Mouse Button (RMB) Control CURSOR position on the screen to steer Left / Right (while applying thrust) and for Nose Up / Nose Down attitude control. Moving the Sun around in the sky:  Locate the Moon Dial navigational aid on the lower left corner of the screen. Locate the small pink translucent square on the outer dial around the Moon (shown here at the 1 o'clock position). That small pink translucent square represents the Sun’s position relative to the Earth and the Moon. Click and drag it to change the Sun’s position. The position of the Sun is controllable from Space, from Orbit, or from the surface. To enter orbit from space: All you need to do is to approach the Moon tangentially. You do that by steering towards the horizon (your cursor should be on the Moon's horizon) Once you are close enough, teh system will put you into orbit. While in orbit you can steer Left or Right, slow down or speed up using thrust control and cursor. You can also "Look Around" in place by pressing and holding down the CONTROL Key. To land on the surface there are two primary methods: Method 1: While orbiting the Moon (not in Space mode - Orbit mode) you can land by pressing the Left and Right Mouse Buttons simultaneously. Method 2: Use the Autopilot feature (Function Key F8). This brings up a list of places to land. Choose a place from this list and click. The system takes you there automatically.. Moving / walking on the Lunar surface: To move forward - press Left Mouse Button (LMB) To move backward - press Right Mouse Button (RMB). To "Look Around" in place, without moving - press and hold down CONTROL key while using cursor to control where you are looking. To return to space (Lift Off) - press the SPACE key. (How's that for intuitive?). To Examine objects on the surface: Face the object you want to examine. Press and hold the SHIFT key and click the Left Mouse Button (LMB). Manipulate the object by clicking and draggin inside the picture window. Scrol to read the text descriptions. Click on View Interior to go inside the LM Ascent Stage when looking at teh Lunar Lander modules. Use arrows and zoom targets on the screen to look around the LM interior. Free Camera Mode: Simulates flying over the surface: Press Function Key F9, then select FREE. Press Left mouse Button (LMB) to move forward, Right Mouse Button (RMB).to move backwards. Use the cursor position to steer (Left / Right / Nose Up / Nose Down) Note that your Velocity is proportional to your Altitude (Higher = Faster / Lower = Slower). Press both Left and Right Mouse Buttons simultaneously to return to horizontal. Press LAND on the screen to land (takes you out of Free Camera mode). Note that you have to be close to the surface to land.
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Quick Start Guide