What is Deep Space Explorer?

Deep Space Explorer, Space.com Software’s latest astronomy program, puts you on an intergalactic starship cruising the ether. It’s a fascinating concept, and the visuals are great, but DSE’s implementation of basic elements, such as Find (for searching out specific items) and Spaceship mode (where you attempt to navigate through the universe with lame spaceship controls), is poor. This, along with an inconsistent rendition of the universe, distracts from the fun and educational aspects of the program.

DSE offers spectacular views of galaxies up to 700 million light-years from Earth. DSE will instantly catapult you to your chosen destination, or you can take the helm in manual Spaceship mode and control the ship’s speed and direction yourself. As with a real spaceship, there are no brakes; stopping requires decelerating to a complete halt, so it’s irritatingly easy to overshoot your destination. Unlike a real ship, you can’t look anywhere but straight ahead without turning the whole ship.

DSE’s problems don’t end there: Many known astral items don’t exist in DSE’s universe; ancillary QuickTime presentations mention the Orion and Rosette Nebulas, but they aren’t in the program’s database.

Deep Space Explorer opens up the universe to inquiring minds of all ages, but the program’s problems and inconsistencies make it tough to recommend. If Space.com Software fills in some gaps, DSE will be a truly fun and educational ride.

Shuchat-Marx, Mark. (April 2002). Deep Space Explorer. MacAddict. (pg. 47).

Download Deep Space Explorer for Mac

Architecture

IBM PowerPC

System Requirements

From Mac OS 9.0 up to Mac OS 10.4

Compatibility notes

Emulating this? It could probably run under: SheepShaver