I highly recommend Orbiter for anyone interested in spaceflight. I found Kerbal to be a good stepping-stone to Orbiter. Kerbal is more instant-gratification,

I highly recommend Orbiter for anyone interested in spaceflight. I found Kerbal to be a good stepping-stone to Orbiter. Kerbal is more instant-gratification, but it lacks the realism that I've come to love from Orbiter. I've learned a ton about spaceflight from playing Orbiter. It makes watching real launches much more interesting, since you will actually know what's going on. Start out with the built-in Delta Glider. Once you're comfortable with that, download the XR2 Ravenstar from http://www.alteaaerospace.com/ http://www.alteaaerospace.com/ (free). It's a much more advanced craft with more bells and whistles to play with, but it's also a bit more challenging to fly.