Orbiter Spaceport

Working :-)

I'm modeling a simple retro styled cockpit for the Lunar Excursion Module. It's based on Gemini technology, with some allowances for Orbiter's MFDs. It's not historical or based on any actual proposal. The pilot will have the two MFD screens in the panel immediately in front of him, and some (I hope) working indicators on the middle panel (fuel, thrust, altitude, speed, ADI ball, etc). On the right side I'll simply put some switches and generic indicators, just for show.

Trying to learn Blender by modeling the early concept for the LEM. Work in progress, but will eventually make it's way into Orbiter Here's an interactive 3D preview:  

This add-on for Orbiter Space Flight Simulator will add a Virtual Cockpit to the ISS Zvezda module. Although complete, the mesh is a little basic on some parts, nevertheless I feel it's good enough for release. As such, I simply added it to an existing Zvezda add-on- the "Zvezda-J" add-on by jekka. There are 2 visible MFDs (on the TORU workstation) and a HUD display over the periscope. This 3D virtual cockpit model is more of a resource for developers than a complete add-on. Feel free to include it on your space-station add-ons and to improve upon it. Get it here:  http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=6083

Brazilian Space Program for Orbiter v2, including the Alcantara Launch Center (CLA) , the VLS-1 satellite launche r (Veículo Lançador de Satélites), the VLM-1 microsatellite launcher (Veículo Lançador de Microssatélites), a Microsatellite , the VS-40 sounding rocket and the SARA reentry experiment . Current version release notes: Improved VLS detailed mesh and textures, now using normal maps for high resolution light effects on the latest graphic clients for Orbiter.   Improved textures with normal maps for the VLM-1, VS-40 and SARA.   Expanded the Alcântara Base, that now features details such as trees, terrain and various structures. Instead of adding new surface bases to Orbiter, this implementation builds upon my “Stock Orbiter default bases upgrade” add-on, only replacing (and improving upon) the Alcantara one. Notice: please remove the Alcantara_CLA.cfg and Base_de_Alcantara.cfg base config files from your Orbiter installation, if install...

VS-40 rocket launch: Launch test of my VS-40 sounding rocket add-on for Orbiter Space Flight Simulator. It features a complete surface base, detailed textures with normal-maps and accurate flight behaviour programmed in LUA, including roll induced by the tail fins. Buran aerotester virtual cockpit:  Working instrument implementation using LUA scripting in Orbiter Space Flight Simulator

Here are some illustrations for the Brazilian Space Program add-on documentation. They show the VLS-1 rocket configuration (labeled in English and Portuguese) and the launch profile with approximate times.

Besides the well know Kennedy Space Center or Baikonur launch sites, there are many other such places around the world. Some of them aren't used for rocket launches, it they played an important role in space history, or are part of current aerospace activities. As part of the development of my Orbiter stock bases upgrade add-on, I've done some research regarding this sometimes little know sites. My objective was to provide high resolution surface tiles for each base and to represent, using the stock base objects, the main structures present. I'll share here some interesting places I discovered. Matagorda was considered as a possible location for NASA's spaceport, along with places like Cape Canaveral... While it was not chosen in reality, it's still featured as a space base in some Ben Bova books. In reality, two close airfields exist at that location, one of them related to private space firms in the 1970s.   Matagorda Island AFB   Matagorda...

Besides the  well know Kennedy Space Center or Baikonur launch sites, there are many other such places around the world. Some of them aren't used for rocket launches, it they played an important role in space history, or are part of current aerospace activities. As part of the development of my Orbiter stock bases upgrade add-on, I've done some research regarding this sometimes little know sites. My objective was to provide high resolution surface tiles for each base and to represent, using the stock base objects, the main structures present. I'll share here some interesting places I discovered. Gran Canaria Airport (IATA: LPA, ICAO: GCLP), (also known as Las Palmas Airport) was an official alternative (emergency) landing site for the NASA Space Shuttle.Also nearby is the Gran Canaria drop zone , an air-launched rocket drop zone, located lat/long 27.0, -15.3. Runways: 03L/21R : 10,171 x 148 ft (3,100 x 45 m) — paved — lighted 03R/21L : 10,171 x 148 ft...

Some images of the final Launch Center model fully textured. Really happy with the results, specially with the vegetation, since my goal was to make a low polygon model for easy export to Orbiter simulator. General view of the two pads: left for sounding rockets, right for the VLS and VLM VLS-1 rocket on pad. The TMI (Mobile Integration Tower) is retracted to a safe distance. After a successful export, here's the Alcantara Launch Center in Orbiter, with the VLS ready to launch.  Alcantara Launch Center in Orbiter

I've finished modeling the VLS rocket. Here's what it looks like in SketchUp after texturing! After export, the model in Orbiter Space Simulator looks like this: Very consistent. I'm using the DX9 renderer, and I've yet to add normalmaps! As I'm happy with the way it looks already, here's an image sequence of a test launch. VLS lifts-off from Alcantara Ascending on first stage, after booster separation Ascending on first stage VLS rocket ascending on first stage. This configuration was the basis for the early VLM project. Second stage ignites. VLS rocket upper stages. Detail of the upper stage attitude control systems and fairing A small satellite is successfully released in orbit!

I've been working on an updated model of the VLS rocket to go with the new Alcântara base.  The first stage rocket boosters have better textures and a more geometry detail. I worked out the fixation points of the boosters to the main rocket, and it looks great! Also, the pad structure was corrected to match the rocket.  The next step is to detail the other stages. Part of the work is done for the VS40 rocket, that shares identical hardware. But there are always differences. The fairing also needs some work to give it a less plastic impression. Booster rocket Pair of boosters The upper stages are also under work. Here I'm using the new textures. The complete VLS rocket stack.  A quick test render of the rocket on pad.  Detail of the first stage, boosters, and pad support structure.

The ESA Hermes space shuttle project ran from 1975 to 1992, after an original proposal from the French CNES (National Space Studies Center). The spacecraft was intended to serve two proposed  European  space stations:  the Man Tended Free-Flyer / Columbus Space Station and the Polar Platform. Before cancellation, some mock-ups and trainers were built.   Because the project was developed in the 1980's there aren't many reference photos on the web.  I'm taking the liberty of posting the all the images I could find on the web  of the Hermes interior, cockpit and instrument panels. This way they are grouped all  together in a single place for the convenience, so that the general layout can be understood and the different mock-ups / simulator versions can be sorted out.  Hermes shuttle flight simulator Hermes shuttle simulator Hermes shuttle misc mock-ups Hermes shuttle mock-up version "a" ...