These release notes cover the entire 24.12 release. Changes since 24.12.RC.01 are listed at the end. Notable features and fixes shown in bold.

RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS

• Enhanced Simulation tab UI: This is the beginning of a multi-release effort to make it easier to manage simulations and interpret their results. Please let us know what you think so far.
• Multi-level wind input: Configure different wind settings at different altitudes (in the simulation configuration dialog).
• New Component Analysis Parameter Sweep Tool: Plot and export Component Analysis parameter sweeps in the new Component Analysis Plot/Export tab. For instance, you can plot the rocket CD as a function of Mach number.
• SVG Fin Export: Export fin shapes directly to SVG for laser cutting or importing into CAD tools.
• Window Ghosting Eliminated on Windows OS (!)
• Extensive Improvements to error handling: There should be far fewer instances of ORK files encountering errors or exceptions while loading.
• Expanded Platform Support: We now offer installers for x86_64 and Arm64 on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• Project documentation moved to Sphinx: See it at https://openrocket.readthedocs.io/.

Simulation

• Overhauled Sim table GUI (fixes #2456)
• Multi-level Wind Feature
  • Enter wind speed and direction at arbitrary set of altitudes for simulation (fixes #922, #2060, #2558)
  • CSV Wind Data Import: Import detailed wind profiles directly from CSV files.
  • Add "Wind Direction" flight data type
• Plotting
  • Organize axis plot types selector into categories and add search function (fixes #2338)
  • Increase size of legend color patches for improved color visibility (fixes #2836)
  • Add air density as plottable variable (fixes #2462)
  • Show stage name in sim plot tooltips (fixes #2521)
  • Keep edit sim dialog open after plotting/exporting (fixes #2531)
  • Add Flight Warning events to plots
• Warnings
  • Standardize Warning format (fixes #2669)
  • Add SIM_ABORT flight event type, instead of throwing exceptions
  • Improve how warnings are saved to and reloaded from ORK file (fixes #2694)
  • Don't warn about large angle of attack when we start to tumble
  • Don't set open airframe warning on booster stages if either they're about to deploy a recovery device or they're unstable (and improve wording)
  • Clarify "Open airframe" warnings when due to separated booster stage
  • Don't generate spurious warning when using a single tube fin (fixes #2663)
• Other
  • Add "Altitude above Sea Level" as new flight data type
  • Include side boosters in thrust calculation (fixes #2639)
  • Allow for configurable maximum simulation time
  • Sync wind speed, deviation, and turbulence widgets together in sim settings (fixes #2388)
  • Add South/West units for latitude and longitude of launch site (fixes #2178)
  • Abort sim when recovery deployment occurs under thrust
  • Allow sustainer to tumble before apogee; if under thrust, abort sim
  • Fire outdated sim on stage rename (fixes #2532)
  • Added "aborted" status mark to simulations
  • Don't show vertical acceleration as negative before liftoff

Motor Configurations

• Separate motor nominal vs. actual diameter (fixes #2569): This allows Loki 76mm motors to pass the 75mm motor filter.
• Add 6mm (MicroMaxx) motor diameter to filter table
• Add "Save as default" option to motor config name (fixes #2537)

Multi-stage Rockets

• Add stage separation options for deployable payloads and a deployable payload example (fixes #852, #2519): We had many requests for this from various competition participants.
• Don't add motor delay time to upper stage motor ignition time (fixes #2450)

Calculations

• Correctly calculate CG on zero-length components (fixes #2626)
• Improve handling of very small fins (fixes #2633)
• Include enabled stages in calculations even if parent stage is disabled (fixes #2657)
• Correctly handle "auto" mass object size when parent component is filled (fixes #2660)
• Fix CP calculation error with tail cones (fixes #2751)
• Clamp compressibility factor to avoid singularity at Mach 1 (fixes #2543)

Component Analysis

• Plot and export component analysis parameter sweeps (fixes #2525): See the new Plot/Export tab.
• Highlight component selected in Component Analysis in the rocket figure display
• Add per-instance Cd column to Component Analysis Dialog (fixes #2019)
• Select components for plot/export
• Fix export of Component Analysis data (fixes #2697)

Import/Export

• Export fins to SVG file: See button at bottom of config window
• Improve OBJ export using Delaunay triangulation (fixes #2444)
• Correct conical nose cone/transition OBJ exporting (fixes #2609)
• Add option to export only one instance of component to OBJ
• Support booster export and import with Rocksim, other bug fixes (fixes #2437, #2377, #2435)
• Correct launch rod length when exporting to RASAero
• Correctly handle periods in file path when exporting (fixes #2701)

Materials

• Add material groups with search: Check this out in any config window.
• Add "document materials" that can be reused within a document (i.e. ORK file)
• Easier to add custom materials
• Set balsa as default fin material

Preset Library

• Fix parachute length resizing when using preset parachute: Lots of folks reported this one.
• Fix transition and nose cone component presets defaulting to a filled shape (fixes #2480 and #2614)
• Correct diameter of Spherachutes to match Cd (fixes #2517)
• Fix sorting problems in preset library (fixes #2576)

User Interface

• Window Ghosting Eliminated on Windows OS: @SiboVG finally squashed this vexing problem (fixes #1667)
• Change look-and-feel engine to FlatLaf for all UI themes: after plenty of tweaking we think it's looking pretty good
• Add UI Customization: You can now tweak the UI to your liking. Added "UI Scale", "Font Size", and "Character Spacing". See the "UI" tab in app preferences.
• Rotate 2D views by click-dragging (fixes #2093)
• Show Flight Config in Design View: This should make it easier to get all necessary information when screenshotting just the rocket figure display (fixes #2735)
• Improvements to Rotation Control in 2D Views: You can now lock the angle so you don't accidentally rotate it with a click-drag; you can also enter the desired angle directly
• Allow components to be hidden from view (fixes #2485): Use the edit menu or contextual menu to show/hide selected components
• Constrain angles in freeform fin editor (fixes #427): Hold down shift or control-shift while dragging a point.
• Add hex color input field in appearance panel (fixes #2224)
• Include number of assembly copies in motor count display (fixes #2725)
• Better positioning of modal dialogs (fixes #2652)
• Correctly track when files have changed (fixes #2679)
• Allow 3 digits of precision in "shape" parameter (fixes #2409)
• Fix Mass Object radial rotation in 3D view (fixes #2550)

Developer stuff

• Move project documentation to Sphinx
• Switched build system from Ant to Gradle
• Added Arm64 support for Windows and Linux
• Adopted Java Platform Module System
• Renamed net.sf.openrocket package to info.openrocket.core and info.openrocket.swing.
• Add compatibility with plugins using the old net.sf.openrocket package instead of the new info.openrocket.core and info.openrocket.swing. The old plugins are copied and migrated to the new package structure with a -migrated suffix. (fixes #2676)
• Clean up the "CSV Save" example simulation extension (fixes #2696)
• Improve core startup for using OR in external Java app
• Add clone helper methods to WorldCoordinate, Quaternion, and SimulationStatus
• Choose user-defined component preset locations (fixes #1081)
• Suppress preset and motor loading at startup (fixes #1579)

Misc

• Re-introduced motor ignition delay optimization to Rocket Optimization (fixes #2345)
• Support more and larger page sizes for printing (fixes #2483)
• Improve manufacturer search in Component preset library (fixes #2479)
• Fix shoulder scaling (fixes #2463)
• Fix exception when changing the opacity setting in the appearance panel (fixes #2644)
• Improvements to the software updater (fixes #2648)
• Update "modified data" file metadata when saving
• Add additional file properties (fixes #2664)
• Honor Cd override when reading from a file (fixes #2745)
• Add Piotr Tendera Rocket Motors (TSP) and Raketenmodelbau Klima (Klima) motor manufacturers to motor database
• Enhancements and fixes to motor length and diameter filters

Notable Changes since 24.12.RC.01

• Multi-level winds feature
  • Correct wind direction visualization
  • Remove 10 m/s max wind speed and 11 km altitude limit for wind levels (fixes #2767)
  • Allow for comments (starting with "#") and blank lines in multi-level wind CSV import
• Major improvements to error handling (fixes to #2777, #2785, #2800, #2804)
• Miscellaneous
  • Reduce size of simulation edit and Component Analysis dialogs for low-res screens
  • Make lateral angle and lateral orientation use north 0 (fixes #2811)
  • Example design updates: Rename TARC example to ARC, rurn example sims without errors
  • Include super-parent angles in instance rotation to ensure correct display in rocket figure display (fixes #2776)
  • Save latitude and longitude in degrees
  • Save and restore launchintowind element in ORK file (fixes #2802)
• Developer features
  • Improve core startup for using OR in external apps
  • Add clone helper methods to WorldCoordinate, Quaternion, and SimulationStatus

...and countless additional fixes and tweaks.

Contributors in this release: @SiboVG ...

Following are changes since 24.12.beta.01. Notable features and fixes in bold.

Multi-level Wind Feature

• CSV Wind Data Import: Import detailed wind profiles directly from CSV files. Thanks to @CSutter5!
• Reworked UI
• Allow zero wind speed input (fixes #2678)
• Add "Wind Direction" flight data type

User Interface

• Window Ghosting Eliminated on Windows OS: We think @SiboVG has finally squashed this vexing problem (fixes #1667)
• Improved UI Readability: Some assorted changes to improve the readability of the UI after the 24.12.beta.01 change to the FlatLaf UI
• Add UI Customization: You can now tweak the UI to your liking. Added "UI Scale", "Font Size", and "Character Spacing". See the "UI" tab in app preferences.
• Improvements to Rotation Control in 2D Views: You can now lock the angle so you don't accidentally rotate it with a click-drag; you can also enter the desired angle directly
• Show Flight Config in Design View: This should make it easier to get all necessary information when screenshotting just the rocket figure display (fixes #2735)
• Use light mode when exporting design info (fixes #2510)
• Support 5 decimal places in latitude and longitude settings (fixes #2590)
• Better positioning of modal dialogs (fixes #2652)
• Correctly track when files have changed (fixes #2679)
• Include number of assembly copies in motor count display (fixes #2725)
• Add File->Properties menu item (fixes #2662). Thanks to @MiguelECL!
• Focus Rocket Config Dialog when opening file (fixes #2146). Thanks to @JonathanDeLaCruz!
• Clear "Simulation abort" warning in design view when resetting flight config (fixes #2749)

Warnings

• Standardize Warning format (fixes #2669)
• Clarify "Open airframe" warnings when due to separated booster stage
• Don't generate spurious warning when using a single tube fin (fixes #2663)
• Improve how warnings are saved to and reloaded from ORK file (fixes #2694)

Calculations

• Correctly calculate CG on zero-length components (fixes #2626)
• Improve handling of very small fins (fixes #2633)
• Include enabled stages in calculations even if parent stage is disabled (fixes #2657)
• Correctly handle "auto" mass object size when parent component is filled (fixes #2660)
• Fix CP calculation error with tail cones (fixes #2751)

Simulation

• Add "Altitude above Sea Level" as new flight data type
• Include side boosters in thrust calculation (fixes #2639)
• Improve handling of launch site altitude and limit to 11 km (fixes #2699)

Export

• Add option to export only one instance of component to OBJ
• Fix export of Component Analysis data (fixes #2697)
• Correctly handle periods in file path when exporting (fixes #2701)

Miscellaneous

• Add compatibility with plugins using the old net.sf.openrocket package instead of the new info.openrocket.core and info.openrocket.swing. The old plugins are copied and migrated to the new package structure with a -migrated suffix. (fixes #2676)
• Clean up the "CSV Save" example simulation extension (fixes #2696)
• Fix exception when changing the opacity setting in the appearance panel (fixes #2644)
• Improvements to the software updater (fixes #2648)
• Update "modified data" file metadata when saving
• Add additional file properties (fixes #2664). Thanks to @MigelECL for their contribution!
• Honor Cd override when reading from a file (fixes #2745)
• Add Piotr Tendera Rocket Motors (TSP) and Raketenmodelbau Klima (Klima) motor manufacturers to motor database
• Enhancements and fixes to motor length and diameter filters

...and the usual additional assortment of small fixes and tweaks.

Contributors in this release:
@SiboVG @JoePfeiffer @MiguelECL @neilweinstock @JonathanDeLaCruzEncora @anushreejha @jefferyjohn

Notable features and fixes in bold.

RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS

• Enhanced Simulation tab UI: This is the beginning of a multi-release effort to make it easier to manage simulations and interpret their results. Please let us know what you think so far.
• Multi-level wind input: Configure different wind settings at different altitudes (in the simulation configuration dialog).
• New Component Analysis Parameter Sweep Tool: Plot and export Component Analysis parameter sweeps in the new Component Analysis Plot/Export tab. For instance, you can plot the rocket CD as a function of Mach number.
• SVG Fin Export: Export fin shapes directly to SVG for laser cutting or importing into CAD tools.
• Expanded Platform Support: We now offer installers for x86_64 and Arm64 on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• Project documentation moved to Sphinx: See it at https://openrocket.readthedocs.io/.

Simulation

As mentioned above, a lot of work went into the Simulation tab for this release, and there is a lot more to come.

Flight simulation

• Overhauled Sim table GUI (fixes #2456)
• Multi-level wind input (fixes #922, #2060, #2558)
• Sync wind speed, deviation, and turbulence widgets together in sim settings (fixes #2388)
• Add South/West units for latitude and longitude of launch site (fixes #2178)
• Improved accuracy of thrust calculation
• Abort sim when recovery deployment occurs under thrust
• Allow sustainer to tumble before apogee; if under thrust, abort sim
• Fire outdated sim on stage rename (fixes #2532)
• Added "aborted" status mark to simulations
• Don't show vertical acceleration as negative before liftoff
• Clamp compressibility correction factor to avoid singularity
• Allow for configurable maximum simulation time

Warnings

• Add SIM_ABORT flight event type, instead of throwing exceptions
• Don't warn about large angle of attack when we start to tumble
• Don't set open airframe warning on booster stages if either they're about to deploy a recovery device or they're unstable (and improve wording)

Plotting

• Organize axis plot types selector into categories and add search function (fixes #2338)
• Add air density as plottable variable (fixes #2462)
• Show stage name in sim plot tooltips (fixes #2521)
• Keep edit sim dialog open after plotting/exporting (fixes #2531)
• Add Flight Warning events to plots

Component Analysis

• Plot and export component analysis parameter sweeps (fixes #2525): See the new Plot/Export tab.
• Highlight component selected in Component Analysis in the rocket figure display
• Add per-instance Cd column to Component Analysis Dialog (fixes #2019)
• Select components for plot/export

Import/Export

• Export fins to SVG file: See button at bottom of config window
• Improve OBJ export using Delaunay triangulation (fixes #2444)
• Support booster export and import with Rocksim, other bug fixes (fixes #2437, #2377, #2435)
• Correct launch rod length when exporting to RASAero
• Correct conical nose cone/transition OBJ exporting (fixes #2609)

Materials

• Add material groups with search: Check this out in any config window.
• Add "document materials" that can be reused within a document (i.e. ORK file)
• Easier to add custom materials
• Set balsa as default fin material

Motor Configurations

• Separate motor nominal vs. actual diameter (fixes #2569): This allows Loki 76mm motors to pass the 75mm motor filter.
• Add "Save as default" option to motor config name (fixes #2537)

Multi-stage Rockets

• Add stage separation options for deployable payloads and a deployable payload example (fixes #852, #2519): We had many requests for this from various competition participants.
• Don't add motor delay time to upper stage motor ignition time (fixes #2450)

Preset Library

• Fix parachute length resizing when using preset parachute: Lots of folks reported this one.
• Fix transition and nose cone component presets defaulting to a filled shape (fixes #2480 and #2614)
• Correct diameter of Spherachutes to match Cd (fixes #2517)
• Fix sorting problems in preset library (fixes #2576)

User Interface

• Allow components to be hidden from view (fixes #2485): Use the edit menu or contextual menu to show/hide selected components
• Constrain angles in freeform fin editor (fixes #427): Hold down shift or control-shift while dragging a point.
• Add hex color input field in appearance panel (fixes #2224)
• Rotate 2D views by click-dragging (fixes #2093)
• Allow 3 digits of precision in "shape" parameter (fixes #2409)
• Fix Mass Object radial rotation in 3D view (fixes #2550)
• Improve texture select combobox operation
• Change LAF engine to FlatLaf for all UI themes

Command Line Options

• Choose user-defined component preset locations (fixes #1081)
• Suppress preset and motor loading at startup (fixes #1579)

Project

• Move project documentation to Sphinx
• Switched build system from Ant to Gradle
• Added Arm64 support for Windows and Linux
• Adopted Java Platform Module System

Misc

• Re-introduced motor ignition delay optimization to Rocket Optimization (fixes #2345)
• Support more and larger page sizes for printing (fixes #2483)
• Improve manufacturer search in Component preset library (fixes #2479)
• Fix shoulder scaling (fixes #2463)

...and, as always, lots more minor fixes and improvements.

Contributors in this release: @SiboVG @JoePfeiffer @neilweinstock @thzero @AhanuDewhirst @stoopipoopy @NCoppola25 @eliotalanfoss @AlexHladin

You can find a visual overview of what's new for this release on our website.

Major Updates

New Features:

• 3D Printing Support: Export any component or combination to OBJ file (fixes #604)
• RASAero compatibility: Import/Export CDX1 files (fixes #875 and #1147)
• Dark mode (normal and high-contrast) and custom UI font size support (fixes #1089)
• Export sim table to CSV (fixes #2077)

Bug Fixes:

• Fix Tube fin drag (fixes #2065)
• Fix Base drag when using Cd override (fixes base drag hack sim error, fixes #2118)
• Fix Atmospheric pressure when using ISA conditions (fixes #2103)
• Properly sanitize XML in ORK file (eliminates corrupt ORK files, fixes #2051)

Other New Features

• Bumped app to Java 17
• Export and import preferences to XML file
• Display secondary stability unit. This means you can display stability in both calibers and percentage of length (fixes #2079)
• Added "cases" and "manufacturers" substitution in motor config names (fixes #2055 and #2204)
• Selection of "common name" or "manufacturer's designation" in motor selection table is now reflected everywhere else in the program (fixes #2072)
• Added "plugged" option in charge delay combobox (fixes #2090)
• Added motor type to "show details" in motor selection (fixes #2069)
• Added instances settings in launch lug config (fixes #2035)
• Account for fin cant in fin root points, and support canted fins in fin marking guide (fixes #2231 and #2242)
• Set cluster tube separation in absolute or relative units (fixes #1970)
• Support transparent rendering and export of Photo Studio images (fixes #2076)
• Added "Select -> Components of same color" and "Select -> None" options (fixes #2129)
• Remember column width, order and visibility in component preset table (fixes #2357)

Bug Fixes

• Fixed mass issues with fin sets (fixes #2217)
• Fixed CG issues for launch lugs and rail buttons (fixes #2040)
• Improved rail button drag calculations
• Added parts detail for pods and boosters (fixes #2084)
• Fixed parachute position when using auto radius (fixes #2036)
• Fixed pod set and booster marker position under certain circumstances (fixes #2047)
• Fix CG marker location in top view (fixes #2050)
• Handle zero-area fins (warn and don't crash with NaN error) (fixes #2032)
• Don't dispose config dialog when no components are selected in 3D view (fixes #2108)
• Display ISA values in temp and pressure fields (fixes #2104)
• Improved simulation of fins on transitions and nose cones (fixes #2113)
• Cleaned up multi-sim editing (fixes #2138 and #1826)
• Update ruler units immediately when preferences are changed (fixes #2151)
• Compute CG and CP based on currently active stages (fixes #2171)
• Improved mass/CG calculations for fillets (fixes 2209)
• Set auto radius correctly for mass objects (fixes #2267)
• Apply radial positioning to multi-engine clusters (fixes #2283)
• Fixed 3D rendering of fin tabs (fixes #2286)
• Update recent file list when opening via file association (fixes #2222)
• Corrected the columns displayed in the component preset table's popup menu, ensuring only relevant columns appear
• Ensured optimum delay is saved in flight summary and .ork files (fixes #2353)
• Corrected longitudinal moment of inertia calculations by excluding shoulders (fixes #2278)
• Fixed exception when setting wind speed to zero (fixes #2386)
• Fixed unexpected mass and CG override interaction (fixes #2394)

Miscellaneous

• Updated example rockets (including brand-new two stage example)
• Show calculated values in override tab (fixes #1629)
• Decrease minimum FoV to 10 degrees in Photo Studio
• Increase resolution of launch temperature and pressure to 2 decimal places (fixes #2003)
• Display Cd override with 3 decimal places
• Added wiki button to help menu (fixes #2046)
• Eliminate option to save "some" sim data (fixes #2024)
• Added OK/Cancel buttons when editing simulations (fixes #2158)
• Added OK/Cancel buttons when editing preferences (fixes #2266)
• Added multi-sim edit indicators (fixes #2159)
• Show warning when motor file has illegal format (fixes #2150)
• Reset window position if off-screen (fixes #2141)
• Keep current field value when "auto" option is unchecked (fixes #2096)
• Open dialog to save design info when first saving file
• Added '3D Printable Nose Cone and Fins' to example rockets
• Use more sensible colors for thrust curve selection in motor selection dialog (fixes #2385)

...along with numerous other minor fixes and enhancements.

Contributors for this release:
@SiboVG @JoePfeiffer @hcraigmiller @neilweinstock @RemingtonHolder @thzero @UncleRus @raynichc @MayNc10 @ptsongalis @JonathanJagt23 @wolsen @jura0207 @janforys @MedKebsi @luzpaz @jimmiedave @SpaceXCheeseWheel

The 22.02 release includes hundreds of new features, bug fixes, and UI improvements, more than we could ever fit into one set of release notes. These notes summarize the highlights of the entire release; for more detail consult the notes from the five previous public beta releases.

Please note that version 22.02 is required for Macs running macOS 13.0 or later.

New Features

• Rocket design features
  • Pods and strap-on boosters
  • Tail cones
  • Freeform fins on nose cones and transitions
  • Highly configurable rail buttons
  • Massive update to parachute configuration and part library
  • Dave Cook's extensive component library now built-in
  • Coefficient of Drag Override for components and assemblies (and more flexible override settings in general)
  • Lots more detailed geometry warnings which identify the components involved
• Appearance updates
  • Settable opacity per-component
  • Separate left/right appearance for fins, and inner/outer appearance for tubes
• App Infrastructure
  • Packaged installers for Windows, Linux, and macOS (JAR file still available)
  • Updated to Java 11
  • Native ARM version for Apple Silicon Macs (snappy!)
  • File association for ORK files: double-click files to open in the app
  • On Mac, app stays open after last window is closed

Simulation and Staging Improvements

• Assorted CP calculation fixes
• Improved nose cone drag calculations
• Improved ground hit velocity calculations
• Completely reworked tube fin simulation (no longer "experimental")
• Improved time step selection for descent
• Improved simulation plot appearance
• Support for scientific notation and custom decimal places in simulation exports
• Simulations now properly account for disabled stages
• Update CG correctly when stages are toggled on or off
• Display stage names in stage enable buttons
• More reliable deployment of booster stage recovery device

UI Improvements

• Updated icons everywhere
• Rocket figure display updates
  • Option to display stability margin as percentage of rocket length
  • New "Top View" option
  • Cleaned-up toolbar
  • Option to show/hide warnings
  • Option to show/hide CG and CP markings
  • Improved click and double-click behavior on rocket
• Component Configuration Editor
  • Extensively reorganized for clarity and consistency
  • Massively improved keyboard navigation
  • Config panels remember which tab you were on previously
  • Cancel button to exit config panel without saving changes
• Contextual menus for managing the component tree
• Simultaneous multi-component edit (great for appearance editing)
• Completely updated operation of motor config and simulation tables
• Improved workflow when creating motor configurations
• Greatly improved component library browser
• Greatly improved freeform fin editor operation
• Photo Studio
  • sliders for settings
  • keyboard input for settings
  • settings remembered for each rocket

Misc

• Extensively updated and reorganized example rocket collection
• Much improved RockSim import and export
• Updated motor database

...plus about a billion bug fixes and so much more.

Huge thanks to all the users who gave us feedback throughout the public beta period and helped us get to our first release in eight years!

Contributors for this release:
@SiboVG @JoePfeiffer @neilweinstock @hcraigmiller @wolsen @teyrana @itshanney @ChrisMickelson @BigsonLvrocha @neilbalch @wcravens @rsammelson @alexkarezin @dkingsley @matt-kendall @kruland2607 @raketenolli @DanielLyi @yasunari89 @bweissinger @SpamWall @tibbe @alexrallen @Hoolean @celeron533

New Features

• C_D Override for subassemblies now implemented. Please test! See this wiki help page for important instructions (fixes #1171)
• Simulations now properly account for disabled stages (fixes #1477 and #1460)
• Rail Button improvements:
  • Additional parameters for rail buttons (fixes #1537)
  • Added rail buttons to preset parts database
  • Scaling now supported for rail buttons (fixes #1661)
• Mass objects maintain fixed volume when container diameter changes in auto mode (fixes #1315)
• Inner tubes can have custom inner/outer appearance (fixes #1509)

UI Improvements

• Visually select child components of assembly components when selecting the parent (fixes #1489). Try selecting a pod, stage, or booster and see.
• Significant improvements to preset selection window (fixes #1481)
• Added sliders to Photo Studio settings (fixes #1524)
• Show markers for pods and boosters in rocket side view (fixes #1146)
• Major improvements to focus behavior. Keyboard navigation in the Component Config dialog is now much more convenient.
  • When setting focus to a spinner field, select the entire field by default (fixes #1506)
  • After selecting a preset, automatically highlight most commonly edited parameter (fixes #1488). So, for example, after selecting a body tube preset the Length parameter will be selected by default.
  • Restore focus to motors, recovery, stage and simulation tables after table action and others (fixes #1558). Simply put, you shouldn't need to click in the table areas just to enable keyboard shortcuts to work.
  • Use tab and arrow keys to traverse sim table (fixes #1552)
• Added and/or improved hover texts on a bunch of different buttons and controls
• Apply preset after double-clicking (fixes #1539)
• Pre-check diameter filters in preset chooser (fixes #1480)
• Preset selection window opens larger, and remembers column widths (fixes #1305). Separate column widths are remembered for each component type.
• Ctrl/Cmd+A (select all) keyboard shortcut in component tree, simulation and motor configuration tables (fixes #1549)

Notable Bug Fixes

• Scripting now works again. Please test! (fixes #308, #826, #1108, and #1270)
• Don't re-run simulations when new sim is created with same motor (fixes #1510)
• Ensure simulations finish when running from scripts (fixes #1575)
• Fixed Cd reporting for fin sets (fixes #1440)
• Move component config window back to same monitor as main app window first time it is opened. No more lost config windows! (fixes #1470)
• Rocket side view updates
  • Don't recenter rocket when zooming (fixes #1464)
  • Ensure full rocket is always visible and positioned correctly in rocket side view (fixes #1465)
• Fixed root edge display in 3D view and fin templates (fixes #1227). This matters when you are attaching fins to a nose cone or transition.
• Numerous bug fixes in component scaling (fixes #1649, #1651, #1653, #1661, #1662, and #1663)
• Better register of double-clicks in 3D view (fixes #1054)
• Increased component analysis drag precision to three decimal digits (fixes #1476)
• Select recovery device/stage after config panel select (fixes #1490)
• Fixed an exception when scaling freeform fins (fixes #1520)
• Improved performance of freeform fin shape editor (fixes #1533)
• Better automatic calculation of fin tab sizes (fixes #1600)
• Fixed simulation errors when there were empty stages in the design (fixes #1617)
• Fixed stage activeness not updating when moving, deleting, or copying stages (fixes #1680)
• Fixed exception for zero-length transitions and nose cones (fixes #1677)

Other

• Don't open motor selection dialog when duplicating motor configurations (fixes #1555)
• A bunch of updated component icons
• Added icons to most buttons
• Improvements to Undo behavior when adding new components (fixes #1513)
• Improvements to scale dialog (fixes #411)
• Component tree now set to reasonable minimum width (fixes #1648)
• Removed "show all compatible" option in preset chooser (fixes #1405)
• Cleaned up several of the example rockets
• Added warning to launch preferences that changes only affect new sims (fixes #1497)
• Fixed overlapping labels in motor selection diameter filter slider (fixes #1643)
• More Russian translation updates

Please note: For this new beta, the packaged installers are now back to using Java 11, due to multiple bug reports related to Java 17.
However, the JAR file will still allow Java 11 or 17, so if you want to keep experimenting with Java 17 then feel free.

New Features

• File association now works on all platforms (fixes #1135)
• Contextual menus now available via right-click throughout the program
• Edit multiple selected items at once (great for appearance editing!)
• Show/hide CG/CP markings in rocket display
• Support for custom decimal places and exponential notation in simulation exports (fixes #1307 and #1354)
• Simulation warning when no recovery device is enabled (fixes #1436)
• Remember previously selected tab when opening component edit dialog (fixes #974)
• On Mac, app remains open when last window is closed (normal Mac behavior)

Notable Bug Fixes

• Tube fins are fixed! Both CP and drag calculations should be good now. So good that we are no longer calling tube fin support "experimental". Feedback please! (fixes #1258)
• Guarantee fit in rocket view (fixes #1231 and #1351)
• Corrected mass display in some situations (fixes #1409)
• Show combined mass of multi-selected components when hovering (fixes #1411)
• Fix greyed-out buttons on Mac (fixes #1099)
• Improve scalability of Motors and Configurations tab (fixes #1285)

Other

• Many component edit dialogs reorganized for consistency and clarity
• Loads more tweaks to parachute and streamer config dialog
• Modified file size estimation in Save dialog. Feedback please!
• Improved layout of rocket view ribbon
• Improved icons for zoom buttons, and launch lugs and tube fins
• Added sliders to Pod Set config
• Preset dialog now sorted by manufacturer by default
• Updated guided tours
• Improved Russian translation

New Features

• Big improvements to parachutes:
  • Added manufacturers: Front Range, Fruity Chutes, Rocketman, b2 Rocketry, Spherachutes
  • Added additional fields to preset DB (e.g. spill holes)
  • Automatic packed size calculation (for select chute manufacturers only)
  • Parachute mass is automatically overridden with manufacturer data (when available)
  • Parachute component name is automatically populated with preset description

Notable Bug Fixes

• Tube fin drag simulation has been extensively rewritten. This should fix flight simulations of tube fin models. Please test your sims and let us know how it works for you (fixes issue 1207). Note that CP calculations for tube fins are still not fixed.
• Improved ground hit velocity estimation (partially fixes issue 1349)
• Rail buttons now included in Fin Marking Guide (fixes issue 1259)
• Tube fin sets now included in Fin Marking Guide (fixes issue... ah, there wasn't one)
• Override mass now divides when fin set is split (fixes issue 1292)
• Fixes exception when splitting fin sets (fixes issue 1302)
• Hovering over pod set reports total mass of pod set (fixes issue 1291)
• Fixes exception when putting fins on transitions (fixes issue 1247)
• Opacity slider now stays in sync with alpha changes in color selector (fixes issue 1326)

Other

• Major cleanup of File menu. Let us know how you like it.
• Improved time step selection for descent
• Java 17 is now included in the packaged installers and supported by the JAR file.

NOTE: Tube fin simulation is currently broken, and will be fixed in a future beta.

New Features

• Check Java version at startup (requires Java 11)
• Opacity slider on appearance panel
• Export sim plots as PNG images

Notable Bug Fixes

• RockSim Import/Export
  • Corrected position offsets when importing and exporting (fixes issue 1164)
  • Corrected fin shape when importing (fixes issue 1220)
• Side boosters
  • Added stage selector for side boosters (fixes issue 1208)
  • Fixed simulation bug with side boosters (fixes issue 1210)
  • Eliminated warning when loading designs with boosters (fixes issue 1196)
  • Fixed Simulation Plot range with boosters (fixes issue 1228)
• More reliable creation of simulation when creating a new configuration (fixes issue 1163)
• No longer need to click on motor config to get flight data (fixes issue 1175)
• Motor database search more robust, especially for CTI (fixes issue 1174)
• More accurate and reliable simulation of fins on transitions (fixes issues 1173 and 1243)
• plus other miscellaneous fixes

Other

• Set default color for all components to #BBBBBB, with Shine=30 (closes issue 1192)
• Update Mac installer style to more standard "drag app to Applications folder"

OpenRocket now requires Java 11 for execution. We highly recommend to use the packaged installers for your operating system.

Notable changes

• Pods
• Drop-off Boosters
• Rail Buttons
• Attach freeform fins to nose cones and transitions
• Coefficient of Drag override
• Added Dave Cook's rocket component library