Orbiter Spaceport

A series of videos that try to reconstructed the TV coverage of Voyager 2 encounter with Uranus. During the encounter NASA produced a series of science updates, along with press conferences. This playlist  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blZmnLy_XDc&list=PLZ4LzWgVGYi1-pDVH1pFQWUi4nq_-Vkki   is an attempt to show all those separate events. First Encounter Day: VOYAGER 2 - Uranus Science Report I (1986/01/23) Second Encounter Day: VOYAGER 2 - Uranus Press Briefing (1986/01/24) VOYAGER 2 - Uranus Science Report II (1986/01/24) Third Encounter Day: VOYAGER 2 - Uranus 5:00 PM Update (1986/01/25) VOYAGER 2 - Uranus 8:00 PM Update (1986/01/25 ) Fourth Encounter Day: VOYAGER 2 - Uranus 5:00 PM Science Report (1986/01/26) VOYAGER 2 - Uranus Science Report III (1986/01/26) Fifth Encounter Day: VOYAGER 2 - Uranus Science Report IV (1986/01/27) On some cases the available footage is not complete, but still is enough to get an idea of how the f...

Here are some interesting videos that show NASA's big plans during the 1980s and early 1990s. The first big project was a large space station, called Space Station Freedom. This is one of the early configurations (the "dual-keel") shown as a miniature model. The footage manages to give some sense of scale of the completed station with the Shuttle docked. Another large project was crewed Moon and Mars missions. These 1990 animations show some nice early computer animations. The overall hardware design is not much different from present day proposals. As normal, the videos were assembled by joining sequences presented on diferent NASA documentaries. This allows to reconstruct the original resource reel and also to present a more complete view of the mission steps and hardware.

Apollo 8 launch highlights, from liftoff to orbit, from HD sources Launched on December 21, 1968, Apollo 8 was the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon.  Some of the original footage was taken by engineering cameras at high frame rates and normally is shown in slow motion. Here it's presented in real speed, but taking advantage of 60 fps video for smother motion.  On the latter part of the ascent, images from Apollo 4 and 6 are used to illustrate stage separation, tower jettison and out the window views. These are also presented at approximate real speed.

Saturn I test flight videos, in real-time and with side-by-side rocket camera views The early Saturn I test flights (Saturn I SA-5 and Saturn I SA-6) are interesting visually because of the on-board camera footage, with good coverage of stage separation. SA-5 tested S-IV second stage ignition and SA-6 carried the first boilerplate Apollo spacecraft into low Earth orbit Since they where test flights, engineers needed images to record what was happening on the vehicle during flight. Most times these on-board cameras would run faster or slower than the standard 24fps film speed. Normally the sequences are shown with no compensation for that, but where I tried to show things in real time. I'm presenting these images in real time and side by side with the more common distant views. The original images come from multiple documentaries and film sources. Sound comes from a real Saturn I launch.

I've uploaded some videos dealing with spaceflight theory. You can find them on this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ4LzWgVGYi2sc-KyCITzbTsFUfzFkOMf Or you can view them here: Fly me to the Moon - and back "Fly me to the Moon - and back" is a 1966 NASA documentary that explains the complexity of planning a lunar mission trajectory. Includes mission analysis, mathematical techniques, computers, mission plan, calculations and real-time support for the NASA Mission Control. Launch windows for lunar landing "Launch windows for lunar landing" is a 1967 NASA documentary, and describes, with animation, the planning of a lunar mission with trajectories and physical capabilities that define these trajectories. Emphasizes launch windows and Earth reentry. Space Navigation "Space Navigation" was made in 1968 and is very informative, showing techniques and equipment used in lunar missions. The Apollo spacecraft...

In preparation for my Constellation program add-on, I collected some images about Orion's cockpit panel layout. These are quite interesting and you can see how it is evolving. 2012 (NASA Systems Engineering Simulator) 2014  layout I assembled this view  from a NASA video showing most parts of the panel and LCD displays. Resolution is good enough to read most of the labels. 2014 Mockup 2015 Mockup The 2015 mockup shows some diferences from the 2014 version. The design seems less monotonous and with a few less flip switches. Image sources: NASA

I did a series of add-ons that depict the planned Skylab B international space station, a follow up to the historical US Skylab program. In reality the Skylab B hardware exists and is on museum display. It was identical to the flown Skylab, since it was its flight spare. For this add-on, an alternate reality is considered, based in several proposals by NASA made in the 1970's. The main changes are the lack of the Solar Observatory, the additional docking ports for Soviet spacecraft, and the alternate solar panel positions. This configuration would allow the station to accommodate extended docking or servicing by Apollo, Soyuz, Progress, Salyut and eventually the Space Shuttle. Besides the Skylab B station, the addon also has a AMU "jetpack", a LEM derived Apollo Telescope Mount, a Resupply Module, EVAs and custom cargo, and even a Skylab-Soyuz mission scenario! Skylab B pack

Great to see my Constellation Orion CEV capsule in this video!

Here's my Skylab B 3D model. It follows actual hardware references closely. Skylab B from 4throckrn on Sketchfab .

Although silent, I'm quite busy working the Skylab B series of add-ons! They depict the planned Skylab B international space station, a follow up to the historical US Skylab program. In reality the Skylab B hardware exists and is on museum display. It was identical to the flown Skylab, since it was its flight spare. For this add-on, an alternate reality is considered, based in several proposals by NASA made in the 1970's. The main changes are the lack of the Solar Observatory, the additional docking ports for Soviet spacecraft, and the alternate solar panel positions. This configuration would allow the station to accommodate extended docking or servicing by Apollo, Soyuz, Progress, Salyut and eventually the Space Shuttle. There's a basic “virtual cockpit” with the "Wardroom Window", that faces sideways from the station, so you will have to turn the viewing direction to look outside. Besides the initial Skylab B add-on ( http://ww...

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:  

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...