ORBITER Space Flight Simulator

Previews of the next version or patch

Andes at resolution level 11 Florida at resolution level 12 High-resolution KSC
The Andes at crisp level-11 resolution. Florida at an even crisper level 12. An altogether nicer KSC as well ...
Florida at resolution level 14 Distance fog
Going crazy at level 14: Cruising over Florida in glorious highres. Adding some distance fog.

Screenshots from 2006 Edition and earlier

Click on the thumbnails to get an enlarged version.

Atlantis Virtual Cockpit MFDs in external windows Higher planet surface resolutions
New high-resolution virtual cockpit of Space Shuttle Atlantis with functional MFDs. Need more data? Just open a few more MFD displays. The eyecandy department kicks into action with level-10 support: looking good at half the altitude.
Inside the delta-glider's virtual cockpit Force vectors displayed More celestial and surface markers
A panoramic view of the delta-glider's virtual cockpit. Mechanics made visible: Forces acting on a glider in atmospheric flight. New celestial and surface markers in planetarium mode.
Spacecraft cast shadows on the ground Larger KSC area New delta-glider
Spacecraft now cast shadows on the ground. The high-resolution area around the Kennedy Space Center has been enlarged. The delta-glider has been completely redesigned.
More colourful reflections and cloud shadows on the surface Shuttle liftoff in smoke SRB separation
More colourful reflections and cloud shadows on the surface. Pillar of smoke: The shuttle lifting off in spectacular fashion ... ... and SRB separation with smoke trail.
Reentry rendering with particle system New atmospheric haze Project Alpha International Space Station
Reentry rendering with particle system. New atmospheric haze render algorithm. The excellent Project Alpha International Space Station will become Orbiter's default ISS, courtesy Andrew Farnaby. (1600x1200 wallpaper version)
New ISS orbiting highres Earth New Lunar surface textures Recapturing satellites with the Shuttle
The new ISS orbiting a level-9 textured Earth. (1600x1200 wallpaper version) The lunar surface is now rendered with Jens Meyer's Moon textures. Recapturing satellites with the Shuttle.
Runway takeoff with the glider Thrust-vector alignment for single-engine configuration Frying Tiger's new Shuttle-A in action
Improved flight model: Runway takeoff with the glider Using thrust-vectoring to compensate for the loss of an engine Roger "Frying Tiger" Long's superb new Shutttle-A class.
A new Vehicle Assembly Building thanks to Valerio Oss By popular demand: V-V docking Assembling a space station in orbit
A new Vehicle Assembly Building thanks to Valerio Oss - Pixel Cartoon - www.pixelcartoon.it By popular demand: V-V docking. Assembling a space station in orbit.
The new Delta glider Mk3 taking off from the International Space Station. More panel instrumentation for the glider Janson Benson's improved MIR
The new Delta glider Mk3 taking off from the International Space Station. More panel instrumentation for the glider. Jason Benson's improved MIR.
Night light texturing and specular oceanic reflections South America with new textures. Specular reflections from oceanic surfaces
Somebody finally found the light switch! The next version will use the new BlueMarble Earth textures by default. Polished marble: Oceans now reflect the Sun. Earth with improved atmospheric haze rendering.
Space Shuttle Atlantis during booster separation. Exhaust rendering using a particle system Atlantis docked to the International Space Station.
Space Shuttle Atlantis during booster separation - an example for the new multistage support. New exhaust visuals using a particle system. Atlantis docked to the International Space Station. Note the improved reflection from the station's solar panels.
Sunrise at the International Space Station Improved ISS mesh Europe with new textures
Sunrise at the International Space Station Improved ISS mesh Europe with new textures.
Better lunar ephemeris calculation - this is the 1999 solar eclipse. Launch from Habana International at dusk Sunset over Cape Canaveral
Custom MFD mode support
Jupiter Custom MFD mode support. The standard Orbiter distribution now comes with a plugin Ascent profile recorder. Takeoff from launch pad 1.
Mercury in high resolution Mars, with Phobos passing in the foreground. Earthrise
Saturn Uranus Neptune

Addon images

These images are provided by addon developers. They demonstrate the ability to extend the functionality of the Orbiter core by 3rd party developers. If you are an Orbiter developer and want a snapshot of your addon published here, check out the guidelines.

Explorer 1 Vanguard 1 Shuttle touchdown
Explorer 1, Americas first artificial satellite. Americas answer to Sputnik. Authors: Jim Williams, Rob Conley, Brad Hodges, Dealer McDope Vanguard 1 is the oldest satellite still in orbit to this day! (and will be for the next 300 years) Authors: Jim Williams, Rodion Herrera Space Shuttle touchdown observed by a chase plane. By Don Gallagher and Dave Hopkins
NASSP Project: Apollo/Saturn launching from KSC NASSP: Project: Instrument Panel The Space: 1999 Eagle Transporter
NASA Apollo Saturn Simulation Project (NASSP): Apollo/Saturn launching from the Kennedy Space Center [Home page] NASSP: Instrument Panel - Graphics Artwork by P64 and Rabiddogs The Space: 1999 Eagle Transporter entering Lunar orbit. Model and textures by Roger "Frying Tiger" Long. [Download]
World of 2001: A Space Odyssey 3.0 Ranger 7 Sirius: Custom star system
'World of 2001: A Space Odyssey 3.0' brings this science-fiction classic to life. Authors: Erik Anderson (Sputnik), Alain Hosking (80mileshigh) and Wolfgang Schwarz (Nautilus). [Home page] Ranger 7, America's first probes to impact and photograph the Moon. Authored by Jim Williams and Rob Conely Alternate solar system based around Sirius, the brightest star as seen from Earth. Author: James S. Williams
HopeX Orbiter Mercury Atlas 6 Gerry Anderson's Supercar
HopeX Orbiter. NASDA proposal for a low cost reusable shuttle to be launched by an H2 rocket. Author: McDope. Available at: Orbital Mods Mercury Atlas 6 (MA-6, also designated Friendship 7) was the first orbital flight of an American rocket with a human on board. The pilot was John H. Glenn, Jr. Authors: Rob Conley, Jim Williams, Brian Sikemma, Markus Mehring, and Robyn Lauryssen-Mitchell Gerry Anderson's Supercar. A space going version of the craft from Gerry Anderson's 1960s TV series. Modelled by Austin Tate. Supercar can travel on-land, underwater, through the air and in space. [Home page]
Soyuz X-20 Dynasoar X-34
Soyuz has been one of the most successful spacecrafts ever: unexpensive and reusable. It is still being used today to deliver crews and consumables to the ISS. Author: McDope. Available at: Orbital Mods. The X-20 Dynasoar is a military project that was expected to replace the X-15 for orbital interception and reconnaissance missions. Authors: Rob Conley, McDope. Available at: MSC, Orbital Mods The X-34: A commercial design from the american company Orbital, whose main aim is to find a cheap, reuseable vehicle to deploy commercial satellites in LEO. Author: McDope. Available at: Orbital Mods
X-37 The Chinese Shenzhou vessel
The X-37, a reusable launch vehicle, is designed to operate in both the orbital and reentry phases of flight. Author: McDope. Available at: Orbital Mods The Shenzhou (Divine Vessel) is the chinese proposal for a manned spacecraft. It may be launched this year by a Long March CZ-2F rocket. Author: McDope. Available at: Orbital Mods.