Orbiter Spaceport

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.

I'm doing more detailed meshes of the Alcantara Launch Center (CLA) structures. Since I released the first version of the Brazilian Space Program add-on the real program itself has made progress, and new reference material about the Alcântara base and the VLS plus VLM rockets has emerged. I can now do a reasonable representation of the new VLS integration tower and pad. Also, the sounding rockets pad (used by the VS-40) has some new details, including the blockhouse.

Some resources documenting the layout of Buran cockpit instruments and panels. All photos are from the indicated sites: Cockpit mock-up, Central House of Aviation - http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/modl_buran.html Cockpit instruments, Technik Museum Speyer - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BURAN_Cockpit-Instrumente_0,_Gesamtansicht.jpg  Vadim Lukashevich, h ttp://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/11/rare-photos-of-russian-buran-space.html I'll add more images as I find them and hope to organize them by vehicle, mock-up or simulator.

Progress on the Little Joe pad and Mercury boilerplate parachute. Rocket performance is close to real (got to 77km instead of ~88km).