Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from 2009

Space: 1999 simulation

I'm really having fun with the Eagles and all the Space: 1999 stuff. While the repaints still have a long way to go for the command module, the body is almost complete. Following discussions on Orbit Hangar Forum, I'm also building a dedicates solar system configuration for the Space:1999 world. This way I can integrate better the available addons and create some interesting scenarios. So far, I have: - Two periods of Moon exploration. A pre-1990's where I only have the Spacedock in Moon orbit and a single "first stone" pad of Moon Base Alpha. Following the series time-line and universe, the Moon is used for Nuclear waste storage. So missions of this early period will feature exploring the Moon surface to identify suitable sites for landing (flat, no high mountains, low altitude, etc.) and placing structures (waste storage). The latter period has Alpha completely built and at least one Nuclear waste disposal area. I might add the Mars base and a few interplanetar

Space:1999 Eagles

Been having fun repainting the Eagles from Space:1999 Orbiter meshes with textures from the original models used on the series. A great level of detail is possible but the spacecraft start to look as what they are in reality, just models! I'm working on all Eagle variants and were are some images:

Earth with rings

Roy has sent me a nice email sharing his latest animation for Youtube. It features some research into what would an Earth's ring system look like. The surface views in the video look good and everything seem to be well researched. Regarding simulation, imagine a space station located on the rings... perhaps to harvest some water! It would be a nice activity to try to simulate a space shuttle flight from the ISS to the ring station and back. Perhaps I'll do it for Orbiter some day!

Project Gemini updated realistic textures

Finally released the Project Gemini updated realistic textures add-on for Orbiter Space Simulator! Add-on Description: Photo-real texture repaint for the magnificent Project Gemini add-on based on actual photos. Texture files only, no meshes or other new files are included. Update includes: High resolution (2048x2048) Titan rocket Better Agena docking target texture Improved virtual cockpit detailed control panels Enjoy! Get it here. (This repaint doesn't include the work in progress capsule repaint you see in previous posts, as they are very rough and only look good from some angles)

Venera 9 mission simulation released!

(nice video preview by rseferino) My Venera 9 add-on for Orbiter Space Simulator is available at Orbiter Hangar: http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4234 Here's the documentation: « Venera 9 (Венера-9, 4V-1 No. 660) USSR unmanned orbiter and a lander mission to Venus. by 4throck – 4throckrn@gmail.com Spacecraft description and implementation in Orbiter space sim. The Venera 9 is implemented as two spacecraft (Orbiter+Lander). The meshes are as accurate as I was able to model them. I tried to follow authentic flight hardware photos as much as possible. Please take into account the fact that Russian hardware on display doesn’t have the thermal covers that were actually used for spaceflight and is sometimes painted with different colors for aesthetic purposes. Therefore, my models will look different from some of the Venera 9 replica photos you might see. Texturing could be improved to give a more uniform thermal cloth cover to the orbiter bus, and other small mesh bugs are pr

Zvezda interior update

Some updated images. Texturing is moving along fine, with the basic walls covered and detailed main panels. Earlier images of Zvezda interior and panels.:

Venera 9 update

Updated images from the Venera 9 add-on. It took a lot of time to export the models accurately to Orbiter's mesh format, but now I'm happy with the final results. I need to fix one parachute and to add the engine to the orbiter mesh, after which I'll be ready to make a first release. Lander on surface: Lander descending with main parachutes: Part of the entry sphere still atached to the lander: Venera 9 orbiter after lander release: Venera 9 orbiter + lander: save

ISS Zvezda interior model

I'm working on a 3D model of ISS Zvezda module's interior. It will eventually make it's way into Orbiter, but for now, here are some images. Forward section with main panels: TORU docking system control panel: General layout of Zvezda's interior:

Venera 9 Orbiter add-on progress

Venera 9 for Orbiter screenshots. It will take some time to get the configuration right, but I'm making progress. I'm following the Venera-D add-on by kodiak as a guideline and because the landing sequence is similar. Proton launch Entry sphere separation Lander save

Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace

Some photos I took at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace in Paris. It's well worth the visit for any space enthusiast, specially for the 1:1 models and real artifacts of ESA and Russian/Soviet space probes and rockets. Venera 3 orbiter 1:1 model Venera 7 lander Lunakhod 1 model Luna 10 orbiter 1:1 model Soyus T6 reentry capsule (real object)

Venera model

I'm working on a Venera Venus lander model for Orbiter. It's based on Venera 9 with the surface lights, although not 100% accurate. Also, here's the landing sphere (bottom portion). The lander enters the Venusian atmosphere inside it.

Mercury Little Joe add-on released

Mercury Little Joe (07-2009 beta ) by 4throck (download from Orbiter Hangar - http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4112 ) I made this add-on to learn about setting up 3D models inside Orbiter. I got it working and was lot’s of fun to develop. This add-on recreates the Little Joe rocket and associated Mercury boilerplate capsule. The launch pad at Wallops Island is also present. As it is my first work of this kind, involving multistage rocket setup, it’s somewhat rough. I consider myself more of a 3d guy, nevertheless I hope you will enjoy flying it. Currently, the rocket starts on the pad at a 90º vertical angle and not at the real 70º~80º inclination. The guidance file then sets the rocket on the actual heading and inclination. The performance parameters are based on reality but tweaked so that a ~88km apogee is achieved for the Little Joe 2 flight. Flight sequence follows real events, with a 40 second burn of the Little Joe rocket, followed by separation of