Orbiter Spaceport

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.

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.

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.