menu
info Documentation

D2S2 Release Notes

What's new in version 1.0.23 (11 Feb 2026)

In this release, we've improved our communications link modelling significantly. Please check out the online documentation to get started.

Improvements

  • Detailed communications link modelling, with detail added for atmospheric losses and bit error calculation based on modulation scheme and frequency
  • Reduced simulation CPU load by caching frequent simulation model results
  • Added Earth atmosphere visual effect, and improved space background rendering
  • Accuracy improvement to EGM2008 and EGM96 models - previously model Order was not used

Fixes

  • Fixed regression error when exporting plot data to CSV file (file would have appeared empty).
  • Fixed calculation error when computing satellite's angular rate change, as a result of model dynamic moment of inertia changes.
  • Logging script now outputs data using invariant culture (always uses decimal point regardless of Windows settings)

What's new in version 1.0.22 (10 Dec 2025)

In this release, we've improved the plot window rendering, enhanced the solar panel model and fixed a few bugs. We've also updated some plugins.

Improvements

  • Plot window now renders an anti-aliased line, and has reduced memory usage.
  • Solar panels now detect shadowing from other surfaces, and generate proportional power output depending on illuminated areas.
  • Applied styles to HTML output, when copying from Output window.
  • Added ability to change Run in real-time setting from scripts.

Fixes

  • Thruster disturbance torque is now correctly calculated relative to the centre of mass of the satellite
  • Fixed orbit rendering (flickering) when inclination is exactly zero
  • Corrected antenna gain transformation, from SBC to local antenna coordindate frame
  • Updated IGRF model to include coefficients up to 2025

What's new in version 1.0.21 (4 September 2025)

In this release, we've added some development features and refinement to user code compilation, including documenting the API. We've also updated some plugins.

Improvements

  • Main toolbar displays status of user code compilation (source file changes detected, compile in progress etc.) with buttons disabled during compile.
  • User code will now only get recompiled at start-up if change to source files are detected since last compile.
  • User coded assembly can now be compiled using optimization (optional setting)
  • Scripts can return a success (0) or fail (-1) result to shell, by setting the ScriptResult property.
  • Scenario files can be created (saved) or loaded from user-coded scripts
  • Pop-up message is displayed at startup/sign-in when user license is close to expiration

Fixes

  • CowellOrbitKinematicModel can now input initial position and velocity from UI
  • GNSS position (latitude and longitude) was incorrectly reported in radians. This has now been changed to degrees

What's new in version 1.0.20 (4 June 2025)

In this release, we added support to migrate older scenario files to newer versions of the simulator if the new version introduces changes to the scenario file. We've also updated some plugins.

Improvements

  • Import and migration of scenario files that were saved with past version of the simulator.

Fixes

  • Correction to logging script, so that first log entry occurs at 0s into the simulation
  • Scipt options for updating visualisation and keeping state during script execution now works

What's new in version 1.0.19 (10 April 2025)

In this release, we added the CubeSpace Coding Challenge! Contact support@cubespace.co.za if you want to find out more about it. We've also made improvements to the user code compilation step. We've fixed a few crashes and UI inconsistencies when changes to source files were detected.

Fixes

  • Prevent dynamic user code compilation from causing crashes

What's new in version 1.0.18 (5 March 2025)

In this release, we've made improvements to the interactive plot window. We've added support to display enum and boolean states, and primary and secondary axes data. We've also enabled some features to generate reports in the script output window. Finally, we've fixed a few minor bugs. There were some plugins changes in this release also.

Improvements

  • Improvements to plot window: primary and secondary axes now enabled, with automatic selection of primary and secondary channels. Enum and boolean property values can now also be displayed in plot
  • Plot window can now capture image to clipboard
  • Changed script options serialisation to also use JSON when saving or loading script options. This is also compatible with script options loaded by D2S2 CLI application
  • Added toolbar button to hide console text in script output window (for copying script-generated reports to clipboard)
  • Added support for super- and sub-script in markdown renderer (script output window) so that units of measure can display properly
  • Added ability to capture static 3D images to script output window
  • Added ability to display plots to script output window

Fixes

  • Enum properties were not included in CSV output when using the Logging Script. This has now been fixed.
  • Fixed mouse selection and zoom issues on non-Cubesat satellite classes
  • Corrected thruster lighting and rendering order (plume sometimes did not display because of depth buffer issues)
  • Corrected lighting on external box and cylinder models
  • Fixed selection and viewing of non-CubeSat satellite models in 3D view, to use component extents to determine selection of entire satellite

What's new in version 1.0.17 (19 Dec 2024)

In this release, we've fixed a few minor issues, and added to the developer functionality. We also made updates to some of the plugins.

Improvements

  • Exposed the automation schedule in scripting interface. It is now possible for a script the set the automation schedule
  • Property 'set' values are now serialised using normal JSON serialisation, instead of built-in to/from string conversions.
  • Added /unsafe compiler option to compile user code.

Fixes

  • Coordinate system visualisation now updates when simulation is running.
  • Output CSV files with higher precision ('double' types are now output to CSV with as many significant digits as the IEEE754 'double' type can store).

What's new in version 1.0.16 (15 Oct 2024)

In this release, we've updated some of the plugins.

What's new in version 1.0.15 (20 Sept 2024)

In this release, we've fixed a few small issues

Fixes

  • Power budget script no longer causes exception
  • Can now change Iyz component of moment of inertia tensor
  • Fixed rendering issue with solar panel with obscuration
  • Window maximizing to secondary screen, dragging and snap to edges now works correctly (for real)

What's new in version 1.0.14 (17 Sept 2024)

In this release, we've fixed the out-of-memory error that occurs when the simulator runs for long durations, and added cone and cylindrical structural satellite components.

Improvements

  • Added ExternalCone and ExternalCylinder model objects. These can be used to model satellite structures that are not flat plates.
  • Also added the ability to change the colour of the ExternalBox component.
  • Window minimize, maximize, resizing and snap to screen edges is now the same as default window behaviour

Fixes

  • Fixed out-of-memory exception when simulation state exceeds available process memory. The simulator will now only keep the latest state if running past memory usage threshold.
  • Fixed ExternalBox render order
  • Window maximizing to secondary screen now works correctly
  • Fixed crash when selecting newly added Ground Station Communications Link in ModelView

What's new in version 1.0.13 (10 Sept 2024)

In this release, we've added some basic scripts

Improvements

  • Added Logging Script - a script that will start a simulation using the currently loaded scenario and settings, and save state to a CSV file while it runs.
  • Added Power Budget Script - a script that will start a simulation using the currently loaded scenario and settings, and output a power analysis summary at the end of execution.

What's new in version 1.0.12 (4 Sept 2024)

In this release, we've updated some of the plugins.

What's new in version 1.0.11 (21 Aug 2024)

In this release, we've fixed a few bugs in the SGP4 kinematic model.

Fixes

  • Corrected error in numeric integration of attitude, in SGP4 Kinematic Model
  • Changed serialization of SGP4 epoch, to avoid use of UTC offset in scenario file

What's new in version 1.0.10 (13 Aug 2024)

In this release, we've fixed a few bugs and added support for formatted text to the script output window.

Improvements

  • Script log window now displays formatted text, and a "copy to clipboard" option was added.
  • Run Script window now displays the script description, and removed the obsolete "Open" button in the Run Script window.

Fixes

  • Display of generic box satellite in the new satellite wizard had the Y and Z dimensions swopped when drawing the box in the orbit view
  • User-coded compile step now excludes plugins in referenced assembly list, if the user settings is set to ignore loading the particular plugin.

What's new in version 1.0.9 (2 Aug 2024)

In this release, we've added dynamic attitude effects due to changes in mass properties of the models.

Improvements

  • Added ability for models to dynamically change their mass properties, and implemented attitude angular rate change when combined satellite mass model changes - to simulate attitude effect of deploying panels and other elements.

Fixes

  • None in this release

What's new in version 1.0.8 (23 Jul 2024)

In this release, we've added a thruster model, and updated our coordinate frame conversions.

Improvements

  • Added thruster model.

Fixes

  • Added conversion from TEME to ICRF reference frame for SGP4 propagator

What's new in version 1.0.7 (21 Jul 2024)

In this release, we've extended the developer functionality to include load/save functionality with user-coded models.

Improvements

  • Added ability to load and save scenario models that have user-coded model objects in them.

Fixes

  • Fixed recursive event handler for property changes on model objects that sets values of on dependent object properties

What's new in version 1.0.6 (31 May 2024)

In this release, we've added developer functionality. You can now code your own models and scripts and use them in the simulator. The EULA was also updated in this release, along with other minor bugfixes.

Improvements

  • EULA is now displayed in the application, not as an install prerequisite package.

Fixes

  • Fixed Unhandled exception when restarting the simulation while real-time is enabled
  • Expanded mass limit in New Satellite wizard
  • Fixed error where New Geolocation wizard would create both TT&C and Data Downlink, when only TT&C was selected
  • Generic Satellite Model (and "Generic Box" selection in New Satellite wizard) now displays correctly in visualisation

What's new in version 1.0.5 (9 April 2024)

In this release, we've made some UI improvements and fixed some rendering bugs, and also applied restrictions to the demo license.

Improvements

  • Grouped new component selection into categories, when using drop-down menu to add a new satellite component
  • Applied restrictions to demo license when creating/adding new model objects, or loading scenario files

Fixes

  • Fixed solar panel rendering (back of panel not displaying transparent)
  • Fixed render order of satellite components, so that newly added internal components are still drawn
  • Fixed exception when adding new solar panel to satellite components list

What's new in version 1.0.4 (26 March 2024)

No changes to the simulator this time, but some plugins were updated.

What's new in version 1.0.3 (26 March 2024)

No changes to the simulator this time, but some plugins were updated.

What's new in version 1.0.2 (19 March 2024)

Some minor updates to ADCS sensor models.

Improvements

  • Star tracker model now exposes measured quaternion (inertial to sensor transform)

Fixes

None

What's new in version 1.0.1 (12 March 2024)

We're working towards improving the usability of the simulator, and also adding features as we go along.

Improvements

  • Fixed release notes, and added release notes for plugins
  • Replaced exception message with message box and link to log file, for error reporting
  • Removed "Simulation in progress" overlay (too distracting)

Fixes

  • Corrected load error when opening previously saved SGP4 orbit model (ElsetType of 0)

What's new in version 1.0.0 (3 March 2024)

This is the first formal release of D2S2!!!

Improvements

  • This release notes and about window makes use of markdown renderer
  • All model documentation updated
  • Added text overlay to show simulation in progress
  • Added EULA window to install
  • Overlay key model values for some satellite components and ground stations
  • Improvement to communication models

Fixes

  • Export to CSV uses CultureInvariant culture - always uses a point as decimal separator
  • Fixed error in opening existing scenario files (DefaultUiInitialiser)
  • Fixed 2D map projected locations for satellites and ground stations
  • Fixed eccentricity input in new satellite wizard
  • Prevent camera animations from interrupting another

What's new in version 0.9.2 (24 Sept 2023)

Demo app functionality is steadily being added. This release adds basic satellite sensors and actuators, and a documentation window, among other things.

Improvements

  • Basic attitude sensors and actuators added.
  • Added model info window for in-app documentation.
  • Implemented more accurate ECI<->ECEF conversion.

Fixes

  • Corrected formatting for decimal point in save files, when using different regional settings.
  • Corrected image display of team logo (not resizing)