Spacecraft for Celestia: Thread 2

[DaveBowman2001]

Spacecraft add-on projects to be uploaded for January-February 2026 release:

Axiom Space Station
New version of the space station based on the company's 2025 redesign

Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (EscaPADE)
Twin NASA Mars orbiter mission, to study the Martian magnetosphere

Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe
NASA/APL heliophysics mission. A follow-up to IBEX

Luna 9
First spacecraft to successfully land intact on any extraterrestrial body. Original add-on by Jack Higgins
Released: 2026-Jan-08, 01:18

Lunar Gateway
New version based on NASA's 2025 redesign
Released: 2025-Dec-24, 07:14

Artemis 4 to 6. Delivering the modules for the Lunar Gateway

Meteosat Third Generation (MTG)
Current generation of European weather satellites in GEO
Released: 2025-Dec-30, 10:00

Mir-2
Cancelled Soviet space station that later evolved into the Russian Orbital Segment of the ISS
Released: 2026-Feb-02, 03:41

[gironde]

update Galileo navigation system
origine : me and DaveBowman2001 viewtopic.php?p=157544#p157544

new satellites since 28-04-2024

I haven't included the "Derelict Remains" section, but you can easily use and expand upon it.

Galileo gps program (GNSS - ESA).zip

(5.53 MiB) Downloaded 17 times

Added after 3 hours 29 minutes:
a picture of Starlink Block v2-Mini published on https://space.skyrocket.de/

starlink-v2-mini__2.jpg (18.84 KiB) Viewed 1831 times

[gironde]

After 'cubesat', here comes a new satellite concept, 'disksat'.

disksat__2.jpg (54.9 KiB) Viewed 1781 times

disksat__1.jpg (67.93 KiB) Viewed 1781 times

The first four were launched on 2025-12-18 at 12:03:00 UTC by The Aerospace Corporation

Having been unable to find a 3D model, I built a 'billboard' model using an image found on the web (until something better is available)

The Aerospace Corporation - DISKSat.zip

(210.36 KiB) Downloaded 16 times

[DaveBowman2001]

The Lunar Gateway in near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO)

The Artemis Program is a NASA-led multinational lunar exploration program that will reestablish human presence on the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. It was formally established in 2017 as a replacement/successor to the Space Shuttle and Constellation programs, aiming to make the first crewed landing on the Moon in the 21st century by 2027.

Montage of Artemis missions included in this add-on

NOTES:
- This add-on serves as an update/replacement for the 2023 add-on of the same name.
- The Beginning/Ending dates were changed based on the current flight manifest as of June 2025.
- Artemis 3 is now modified as a standalone mission in NRHO. Meanwhile, Artemis 2 is not yet included due to lack of publicly available trajectory data
- Lunar Gateway assembly sequence is based on NASA Johnson's Gateway Buildup Animation video. The station now also uses the 3D model that NASA released in March 2025
- Custom XYZ trajectories depicting the final approach and docking of Artemis 4 to 6 onto the Gateway included.
- New specular and emissive effects applied to the Orion MPCV by andreas9343
- The Human Landing Systems of both SpaceX and Blue Origin are not yet included, but are currently under development

CREDITS:
- andreas9343 = Orion MPCV
- Endeavor35 = SpaceX Dragon-XL
- NASA = Lunar Gateway

Lunar Gateway.zip

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Orion MPCV.zip

(6.03 MiB) Downloaded 21 times

SpaceX Dragon-XL.zip

(4.07 MiB) Downloaded 21 times

[DaveBowman2001]

A Gemini spacecraft in low Earth orbit

A Gemini and an Agena Target Vehicle docked in LEO

Project Gemini (1964–1966) was NASA's second human spaceflight program after Mercury. Its overall purpose was to test rendezvous and docking technologies, and gain experience in week-long duration spaceflights. Its success led NASA to eventually achieve the first six crewed Moon landings later done by its successor program, Apollo, by July 1969.

Commander (top) and pilot (bottom) seats inside Gemini

WHAT'S NEW?
- Replaces Part 3, which was originally posted on March 2025
- New remastered model for Gemini itself, including a complete interior model and two astronauts inside

Project Gemini (Part 4).zip

(12.12 MiB) Downloaded 22 times

[DaveBowman2001]

Dawn is a NASA spacecraft designed to study two of the three known protoplanets in the asteroid belt, Ceres and Vesta. It is the first spacecraft to orbit two extraterrestrial bodies, which is made possible by its use of ion propulsion. During its nine-year mission (2007-2018), it orbited Vesta from 2011–2012 and then orbited Ceres in 2015, which remains so to this day until its predicted crash sometime in 2044.

Original add-on by toutatis. I've modified the 3D model and gave its solar arrays some suntracking capability.

Dawn.zip

(9.04 MiB) Downloaded 23 times

[DaveBowman2001]

Meteosat Third Generation, also known as Sentinel-4, are a series of European weather satellites positioned in GEO. As of 2025, two satellites were launched since 2022, with four additional satellites planned for launch until 2036. It is intended to eventually replace the Meteosat-SG series, complementing both the GOES-R and the Himawari fleets.

The active (GREEN) satellites of the Meteosat-TG fleet

Orbital data retrieved from CelesTrak, with the data for Meteosat-12 reused from the SSC files originally made by gironde. Original model were based from EUMETSAT's interactive 3D model from their site.

Meteosat 12 to 13.zip

(1.3 MiB) Downloaded 17 times

[gironde]

Cosmo-SkyMed by ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana)

It is used in both civilian and military contexts.
Data are distributed to institutional users by the Matera C-UGS (civilian) and the Pratica di Mare D-UGS (military).
Distribution to commercial users is performed by the e-GEOS company.

There are 7 satellites, the last launch took place on January 3, 2026.

Italy (ASI) is part of the ESA but like France (CNES) and Germany (DLR), it sometimes launches satellites on its own behalf.
programs ASI :
LAGEOS
COSMO-SKYMED
LARES
PRISMA
PLATINO
AOS

for this I have used a model type billboard (flat model by Selden and flat picture)

attachment=1]Cosmo-SkyMed.zip[/attachment]

[DaveBowman2001]

Luna 9 was a Soviet space probe that became the first spacecraft to successfully land intact on the Moon on 3 February 1966. Touching at Planitia Descensus within Oceanus Procellarum, it transmitted data back to Earth until its batteries were depleted 3 days after landing, revealing that the ground on the lunar surface can support the weight of any lander visiting it.

Planitia Descensus, the landing site of Luna 9

This is a remastered version of the original add-on made by Jack Higgins. Original 3D model by tashtego

Luna 9.zip

(1.87 MiB) Downloaded 16 times

[gironde]

The Optical Space Component (CSO) is a series of three optical reconnaissance satellites forming part of the French MUSIS (Multinational Space-based Imaging System) weapons program. Deployed between 2018 and 2025, they are intended to succeed the previous generation Helios 2 satellites, offering enhanced performance.

model is an 3D model type billboard with an image taken from the web and cut out to remove the background and make it transparent.

CSO 1-2-3 (CNES).zip

(41.17 KiB) Downloaded 8 times

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Added after 11 minutes 28 seconds:
Brasilsat was Brazilian communications satellites which was operated by Embratel
Brasisat A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, B4 lauched between 1985 and 2000

use of a 3D billboard-type model

Brasilsat.zip

(51.11 KiB) Downloaded 8 times

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CBERS-x (Brazil - INPE ou ZY-x (China - CNSA)
Earth Observation Sensors, satellites sino-brazilian

CBERS-1:ZY-1 01 (14/10/1999 at 03:15 UTC)
CBERS-2:ZY-1 02 (21/10/2003 at 03:16 UTC)
CBERS-2B:ZY-1 02B (19/09/2007 at 03:26 UTC)
variant à CBERS-1: ZY 2A, ZY 2B et ZY 2C (2000-2003-2004)
variant à CBERS-2B: ZY 1C (22/11/2011)
1450 kg
1,8 m × 2,0 m × 2,2 m sur lequel est fixé un panneau solaire orientable long de 6,3 mètres (sur la face 2.2x1.8)
diametre = 1.8 + 6.3 = 8.1m
radius = 4.05m

CBERS-3:ZY-1 03 (9/12/2013 at 3:27h UTC lost)
CBERS-4:ZY-1 04 (7/12/2014 at 03:26 UTC)
CBERS-4B:ZY-1 04A (20/12/2019 at 03:22 UTC)
1980 kg
radius = 4.775m

CBERS-x (INPE) ZY-1 FMx(China).zip

(133.11 KiB) Downloaded 9 times

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[gironde]

QPS-SAR series by Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS) - Japon
12 Japanese satellites in orbit
QPS-SAR are small, high-resolution Earth observation satellites equipped with X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR).
They are being developed by the QPS Institute in Japan.

nb: I have used an flat model 3D type billboard

QPS-SAR.zip

(127.37 KiB) Downloaded 10 times

[DaveBowman2001]

The Optical Space Component (CSO)...model is an 3D model type billboard with an image taken from the web and cut out to remove the background and make it transparent.

This satellite looks a lot similar to the Pleiades-HR add-on you've previously created in June 2018. You could probably reuse those instead, possibly with slight texture changes to visually differentiate the two fleets

Brasilsat was Brazilian communications satellites which was operated by Embratel...use of a 3D billboard-type model

I had an HS-376 satellite model created back in October 2023 (preview), commonly associated with the early Shuttle missions, of which Brasilsat also later used. Unfortunately, I've lost the original files in a previous computer reformat in the interim. Will be making a new one once I got extra time

[gironde]

DaveBowman2001 wrote
This satellite looks a lot similar to the Pleiades-HR add-on you've previously created in June 2018. You could probably reuse those instead, possibly with slight texture changes to visually differentiate the two fleets

It's a great honor you're bestowing upon me.

At the time, I adapted many models found on NASA and ESA websites, but I didn't actually create any.
These models were free, and I converted them as needed to 3DS on the internet and then to CMOD using CMOD Converter.

We proceeded this way with Croc to provide 3D models to Celestia users.

Regarding CSO, they are indeed derived from Pleiades-HR, but they have four solar panels instead of three. I'm unable to add any more.
Now, it's true that we can use the Pleiades-HR model while waiting for something better.

By the way, please note that I can no longer access: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/esac-csa/scifleet for the ESA 3D models.

If you can find HS-376, that would be great.

[gironde]

I'm uploading the last three Hulianwang Digui Constellation launches here.
The data provided by Celestrak in December regarding launch #16 was reused by the site in January.

And instead of 6 satellites, this launch involved 9 satellites.
Since the numbers have changed, it's best to replace the entire file with today's version.

The 3D model is always oneweb.cmod, used as a generic file. That's the problem with Chinese aerospace: there's little information.

Hulianwang launch 16 replace.zip

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Hulianwang launch 17.zip

(827.97 KiB) Downloaded 5 times

Hulianwang launch 18.zip

(827.96 KiB) Downloaded 3 times

[gironde]

The new 10 last editing Starlink' launches :

11/12/2025 22:01 n°340 - 29 Starlink 06-90 2025-294
14/12/2025 05:49 n°341 - 27 Starlink 15-12 2025-298
15/12/2025 05:25 n°342 - 29 Starlink 06-82 2025-299
17/12/2025 13:42 n°343 - 29 Starlink 06-99 2025-303
17/12/2025 15:27 n°344 - 27 Starlink 15-13 2025-304
09/01/2026 21:41 n°346 - 29 Starlink 06-96 2026-003
12/01/2026 21:08 n°347 - 29 Starlink 06-97 2026-005
14/01/2026 18:08 n°348 - 29 Starlink 06-98 2026-008
18/01/2026 23:31 n°349 - 29 Starlink 6-100 2026-012

Starlink 340 to 349.zip

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Added after 5 hours 49 minutes:
Launch 19/01/2026 07:48 n°019 - 9 Hulianwang - Gr 19 - 2026-013

Hulianwang launch 19.zip

(827.99 KiB) Downloaded 3 times

[gironde]

2021 Navstar (GPS) add-on update
Added the latest GPS satellites
Replaced the generic 3D model with much more representative billboard models (flat images).
Added launch times
I haven't finalized the decommissioning of some satellites because they are still in orbit but inactive.

https://gssc.esa.int/navipedia/index.php/GPS_Spac ... nt#GPS_Satellite_Constellation

Navstar.zip

(376.91 KiB) Downloaded 3 times

[DaveBowman2001]

Mir-2 is the planned successor to the Soviet/Russian space station, Mir. Different iterations of the space station were proposed from 1976 to 1993, with the modules launching exclusively either from Buran or Progress-M2 spacecraft. However, the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 had led Roscosmos unable to fund such a project, until it was decided in 1993 to merge this with its also struggling US counterpart, Space Station Freedom, with Mir-2 ultimately becoming the Russian segment of the International Space Station.

NOTES:
- Models were originally created by Nickolay Dimitrov
- This add-on represents its most recent planned configuration as of 1993.
- Due to some of its modules eventually flown as part of the ISS, this add-on also contains common files with the latter project. To prevent conflict, the ISS add-on must be installed first before installing Mir-2.
- The Soyuz and Progress are separate add-ons.

Mir-2.zip

(15.52 MiB) Downloaded 11 times