Orbiter Spaceport

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...

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...