Spacecrafts for Celestia

[DaveBowman2001]

What better way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 17, the last crewed lunar landing in history so far? For Celestians, it is the release of the fourth major update of the Project Apollo addon!

WHAT'S NEW?
- Added the entire flight of Apollo 13! It is still rough on some segments but overall good enough for release
- Added the EASEP package and retroreflectors (provided by Endeavor35)
- Revised sizes for all components of the Apollo program since Part 3's were miniature in scale it turns out
- Thanks to John van Vliet, the models for the actual 3D terrain of the six Apollo landing sites were complete! They are available over the Apollo Landing Sites thread
- Modified Apollo 5 in order to simulate its "fire-in-the-hole" test sometime in 1968-Jan-23
- Models of the CSM and LEM-Ascent were modified to make them more metallic
- A new LEM-Descent model based on ElChristou's original LEM model, which also replaces the old 3DS model by Jack Higgins
- Removed the reflections from the Apollo astronauts (except for the visors)
- Fixed the visual bugs on the ALSEP instruments and the Lunar Rovers
- The flags were oriented to closely match the actual photographs.
- The class of derelict objects were changed from "component" to "diffuse", as Celestia 1.7.0 had trouble rendering objects in that class
- Flat terrain simulation for Apollo 11 to 14, while mountainous terrain for Apollo 15 to 17. Take note that these will be replaced in the future (courtesy of John van Vliet)
- Uses the FixedPosition and Timeline functions for placements of the spacecraft and the astronauts. This method has eliminated any duplicate entries and you can actually watch the astronauts and the LEMs "teleport" from one location to another
- Added the ascent stage from Apollo 11 that is left in a surprisingly stable lunar orbit to the Present Day



HOW TO NAVIGATE:
Due to Apollo's very short duration missions, not lasting longer than 12 days (except for Skylab missions), navigating to each one of them is quite complicated:

- For Version 1.6.2, install Jan Stegehuis's Spacecraft Goto script to easily jump in time on each single mission
- For Version 1.7.0, since the above script doesn't work here, refer to this Wiki page to manually jump in time on your preferred Apollo mission
- In the Present Day, you can visit the remains of the LEM descent stages by entering "LEM-" followed by a number or simply typing " Apollo". In the case of Apollo 11, you can visit the ascent stage in orbit by entering "Eagle AS"


IMPORTANT NOTES:
- This addon replaces Part 3 entirely. Delete that version first if you have installed it on your Celestia before downloading this addon since there are many outdated files there that are no longer used
- In addition, it also remotely overwrites the Apollo missions included by default on version 1.7.0
- Apollo 12 astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean require the newest version of Skylab in order for them to be viewed
- Apollo 18 requires the newest version of the ASTP addon in order to be viewed as well (also to become available in a few days)
- This version is specifically made to be mobile-compatible! An official download link on mobi is now available since 2022-Dec-28


OPTIONAL ADDONS:
Additional content that uses hardware related to the Apollo program. The addons below can work independently even if Project Apollo isn't installed

- Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
- Apollo Landing Sites
- Lunar Orbiter 1 to 5
- S-IVB Apollo stages
- Skylab
- Surveyor 1 to 7



CREDITS:
The following components of this addon were made by other addon developers below. Only the LEM descent stage and lunar rover were made by me

- ElChristou = Original creator of the Apollo CSM and the ascent stage of the Apollo LEM
- Endeavor35 = ALSEP instruments
- Linuxman = Generic crater terrain
- Max Grueter = Apollo astronaut models



FUTURE DEVELOPMENT:
- The three Pegasus micrometeoroid satellites
- Translunar trajectories for Apollo 8 to 17
- XYZV trajectories for the S-IVB stages that were deliberately crashed onto the Moon (Apollo 13 to 17)
- Just for fun, the cancelled Manned Venus Flyby concept
- Probably won't happen in the short term, but I guess the experience that will be gained from making the translunar orbits would be used to simulate the entire landing sequences of the Apollo LEMs!

Project Apollo.zip

(13.85 MiB) Downloaded 1218 times

[DaveBowman2001]

Apollo 4

Apollo 5

Apollo 6

Apollo 7

Apollo 8

Apollo 9

Apollo 10

Apollo 11

Apollo 12

Apollo 13

Apollo 14

Apollo 15

Apollo 16

Apollo 17

[DaveBowman2001]

Update/Replacement to the Skylab addon, which is now completely compatible with Project Apollo (Part 4).

WHAT'S NEW?
- Skylab's CMOD models were modified to become more metallic in texture
- Reduced the size of the "invisible sphere" so that the docked Apollo CSMs can be clicked more easily. However, some EVAs can't still be clicked unless you are inside this said sphere
- Deleted all the SSC files of the three crewed missions and EVAs as these were already provided by Project Apollo (Part 4)

Skylab.zip

(3.45 MiB) Downloaded 205 times

[DaveBowman2001]

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) is the first crewed international space mission in history, carried out jointly by the United States and the Soviet Union in July 1975. It symbolized the end of the Space Race that started with the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 and reached its peak during Apollo 11 in 1969. ASTP marked the last flight of the Apollo Program, with the US portion sometimes being referred to (unofficially) as Apollo 18. The mission's legacy on peaceful cooperation in space is still felt today aboard the International Space Station since 1998

Apollo 18 is crewed by Tom Stafford, Vance Brand, and Deke Slayton

Soyuz 19 is crewed by Alexei Leonov and Valery Kubasov

NOTES:
- Original addon by linuxman
- Fixed the wobbly bug that was present during the docking phase on versions 1.6.2 above
- This version also adds the three precursor test flights of the 7K-TM (Cosmos 638, Cosmos 672 and Soyuz 16) and one post-ASTP mission (Soyuz 22)
- The Apollo portion of this addon requires the Project Apollo (Part 4) to be installed first

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.zip

(11.5 MiB) Downloaded 212 times

[gironde]

On 2022-12-08, SpaceX launched 40 Oneweb satellites

Oneweb 15.zip

(2.5 MiB) Downloaded 159 times

On 2022-11-26, on the Indian site Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India (Formerly Sriharikota Launching Range), took place the launch of 4 new Swiss Astrocast satellites
previous forum launches: viewtopic.php?p=154995#p154995
I modified the generic 3D model which no longer needs a texture and which can be stored in your main 'models' folder
the new name is generic_sat_cylindric.cmod

Astrocast 03.zip

(59.53 KiB) Downloaded 148 times

Added after 44 minutes 29 seconds:
update of Galaxy fleet by two new satellites : Galaxy 31 and Galaxy 32, launched 2022-11-12

Galaxy.zip

(12.44 KiB) Downloaded 174 times

[DaveBowman2001]

Update/Replacement to the Galileo addon. Major changes in the spacecraft's CMOD model now features its spinning/despun sections much like what it was designed in real life. Compatible with the latest builds of version 1.7.0 where its reference frame is set to Jupiter itself and not the Sun (implemented since November 5th).

NOTES:
- Original addon by toutatis.
- Once again requires the STS-2022 addon installed to view the entire mission from shuttle deployment to deorbit

Galileo.zip

(15.29 MiB) Downloaded 194 times

[DaveBowman2001]

SSC Update to the InSight (Lander) addon by toutatis. Added an Ending date for the spacecraft after NASA officially announced that it recently ended its mission on Dec. 15th

NOTE: You could still view InSight in the Present Day, only its name would not show up anymore after the Ending date

InSight (SSC Update).zip

(637 Bytes) Downloaded 196 times

[DaveBowman2001]

The active (green) and derelict (red) Meteosat-I satellites as of 2005-Feb-10

The first-generation Meteosat satellites were a series of seven European satellites that are designed to monitor the weather from GEO, complementing NASA's GOES satellites. Weighing around 282 kg and measuring about 3.195 m in length, these satellites were launched between 1977 and 1997, and it continued their service until the last one was decommissioned in 2017

Orbital data retrieved from CelesTrak. This also serves as an update to the Meteosat addon by gironde

Meteosat 1 to 7.zip

(722.21 KiB) Downloaded 162 times

[gironde]

To complement DaveBowman2001's addon, here is the Meteosat sequel from 8 to 12
Meteosat-12 uses the same model but as a generic because it is completely different from its predecessors.

Meteosat 8 to 12.zip

(932 Bytes) Downloaded 183 times

Added after 1 minute 24 seconds:
note : Meteosat-3 is also named Meteosat-P2

[DaveBowman2001]

Luna 25, also known as the Luna-Glob lander, is a future Russian lunar lander mission. Scheduled for launch on July 2023, it will be Russia's first lunar exploration attempt since Luna 24 in 1976. It will land on the Boguslavsky Crater near the lunar south pole as part of the first steps of building a lunar base separate from NASA's Artemis Base Camp

Luna 25.zip

(1.2 MiB) Downloaded 159 times

[DaveBowman2001]

STS-38 (Atlantis) carrying USA-67 and Prowler

The Satellite Data System is a fleet of communication relay satellites for transmiting real-time data from US spy satellites (e.g. KH-11) in polar areas. They are also used for communications to USAF aircraft on polar routes and connect the various ground stations of the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN).

The three second-generation satellites are placed in Molniya orbits and one in GEO from 1989 to 1996 with an expected 8-year lifespan. They were notable for being the last military satellites ever launched from the Space Shuttle

NOTES:
- Orbital data for all four satellites are semifictional as they have no TLEs recorded from CelesTrak due to their classified military nature
- Only the second generation satellites are depicted on this addon
- Requires the STS-2022 addon installed to view the first three SDS-2 satellites in this addon
- Shuttle missions modified by this addon: STS-28, STS-38 and STS-53

SDS-2 (Quasar).zip

(881.51 KiB) Downloaded 170 times

[DaveBowman2001]

The International Space Station (ISS) is a multinational collaborative project between five space agencies around the world (NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, CSA), which serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory for astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and other fields. The ISS is suited for testing the spacecraft systems and equipment required for possible future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.

The model is based from the NASA model published in 2019 and includes crewed and uncrewed missions from all spacecraft from 1998 to 2024

WHAT'S NEW?
- Replaces entirely the May/June 2022 and subsequent updates
- File arrangement were restructured in preparation for the development of the Axiom Space Station in the future.
- PMA-2 is relocated sometime in 2024 for the installation of the first Axiom module. Since it is still uncertain what will be the flight manifest is going to look like by that point, all Crew Dragon and Starliner flights beyond 2025 are temporarily deleted
- Deployment of the remaining outfitting equipment for Nauka is delayed to sometime in February 2024 (wild guess after the incident from Soyuz MS-22 cancelled two EVAs meant for these events)
- Visiting spacecraft are now separated onto their own ZIP files once again to lighten up downloading whenever there are future updates being posted

CREDITS:
- linuxman = ATV, solar panel tracking heavily inspired on his magnificent ISS-2009 addon
- gironde = HTV
- Endeavor35 = Cygnus (Standard/Enhanced), Cargo Dragon 1, Soyuz, and Progress

IMPORTANT NOTE:
- Because this update has a slightly different file arrangement than the 2022 iterations, delete those addons first before installing this one to prevent any conflicts from happening
- The Shuttle missions require the STS-2022 addon installed

[ANDREA]

Hello Dave.
I just noted that your ISS release dated May-June 2022 (I have not yet updated to latest release), has a small but bright ring around the "Cupola", as shown in the attached images.
It's always visible, under any Ambient Light setting and with ISS in light or in shadow.
My Celestia 1.7 is Cartrite's release (thank you Cartrite!) dated 02/03/2022.
Can you check if it is my problem or a real minor defect, please?
Thank you very much!

Andrea

Cupola in light

Cupola in shadow

Cupola in light, close-up

[DaveBowman2001]

Oh, it is a minor defect in the model. Unfortunately, I have currently no idea how to fix it. It was supposed to light-up the computers inside the Cupola, but somehow the outside "ring" was also affected.

[ANDREA]

Never mind, Dave, it's just a a small problem, which is lost in the beauty of the ISS model.
But happy to know it is not a problem of mine....
Just curious: no one has an idea for a solution?
My little cent (but I know almost nothing about models, so probably it's a nonsense....): what happens darkening the relevant texture?
May this partially solve the problem, or it's due to emissive or reflective surface settings?
Thank you for your reply, and for all what you are doing for Celestia..

Andrea

[DaveBowman2001]

what happens darkening the relevant texture?
May this partially solve the problem, or it's due to emissive or reflective surface settings?

If I darken the texture, then the glow on one of the computers the inside the Cupola would be lost. It actually wasn't supposed to happen like that, like somehow the "ring" part is connected to it

[ANDREA]

I got it, thank you.
But I see that the "ring" is in the same two textures containing a lot of other Cupola parts, e.g. the Cupola windows, their covers and the computer screens, so what if we darken just the ring in those 2 textures?
Can be a possible solution?
Anyway I have some doubt that the problem is in the textures, it seems to me that it could be in the emissive settings or any other such settings.
Bye

Andrea

[DaveBowman2001]

...if we darken just the ring in those 2 textures?

Unfortunately, this still doesn't work and the computer meshgroups are still affected by the change. At the time I ran out of options how to fix it at the time, I simply just considered it as some kind of "afterglow" from the computer screens inside the Cupola itself, so I just left them in place.

Anyway I have some doubt that the problem is in the textures, it seems to me that it could be in the emissive settings or any other such settings

Same thoughts as well, I also think it's from the emissive settings somehow

[ANDREA]

ThanK you Dave.
May be someone here will give a solving idea on the matter.
Never mind.

Andrea

[DaveBowman2001]

The Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) was a NASA Earth observation satellite that launched from Space Shuttle Challenger on 1984-Oct-5. It was the first Shuttle-launched satellite to be placed directly onto space using the Canadarm, and it measured the planet's radiation budget and studied stratospheric aerosol and gases until its decommissioning in 2005. Afterwards, it remained derelict in LEO until it reentered the atmosphere over the Aleutian Islands on 2023-Jan-8

STS-2 (Columbia)

STS-41-G (Challenger)

NOTES:
- This serves as an update to the ERBS addon
- Requires the STS-2022 addon installed first for this mod to work
- Also includes the OSTA payload, which flew on two Shuttle missions in 1981 and 1984
- Shuttle missions modified by this addon: STS-2 and STS-41-G

Earth Radiation Budget Satellite.zip

(1.73 MiB) Downloaded 142 times