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To describe this as a flight simulation is rather an understatement. Instead of a quick trip round an airfield you're expected to take a space shuttle up into orbit, rescue a damaged satellite, and then bring it back down to earth. The simulation ought to be authentic, as the program is apparently written by an ex-NASA pilot.

The packaging is disappointing. Although the tape comes with an informative 16-page manual to guide you, it is all contained in a styrofoam box with a flimsy wraparound cover which gets bent and creased as soon as the cellophane is removed.

A careful reading of the manual is essential, although in contrast to other simulation programs this is one where you can't help but get off the ground. You're given points according to how well you perform each part of the operation rather than being dumped unceremoniously back to earth for failing to take up your undercarriage at the right moment.

The first stage is the launch. You have to look at the landing site weather. To guide you there's a display of the shuttle's progress in the bottom left corner, while the view from the windscreen occupies a quarter of the screen, with the instrument read-outs scattered around. A joystick is essential.

The rescue mission comes after the launch into orbit. This is the only easy part as you retract the satellite into the shuttle with the remotely controlled arms. The final re-entry and landing is the only place where disaster can strike. It's also the only part where you see the shuttle itself instead of the view through the windscreen. The graphics are impressive as the craft sweeps down the runway to land ... or not.

This program makes use of the high-speed poke, though this can be deleted at the start if yours is one of the Dragons that can't cope. Even at the slower speed the response to the joystick and the occasional keyboard input is instantaneous. While there's hardly any sound that doesn't really matter as it would only slow up the speed of operation anyway.

Space Shuttle is the first decent flight simulator I've seen for the Dragon, and if you're thinking of getting one you needn't consider the others.