Full sized lunar module replica
built by Global Effects for a movie.

This section provides links to space simulation organizations such as those who use group simulations for schools. Also, links to simulator companies (e.g. those who build hardware simulators for museums or movie props) and other simulator related resources.

Here we look at resources for building space simulations with realistic spacecraft, planets, star systems, etc.

• 3-D Computer Models - the Modeling section includes a sub-section on building spacecraft in computer 3D simulations.
• Realistic Planetary & Steller System Modeling
  • Druantia, Vritual trip to Mars project
    Open source project that seeks "to create a full resolution, realtime and client-server based 3D virtual trip to Mars". It relies on Mars topography data from the altimeter on the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft.
  • MPL 3D Solar System, a new 3d interactive space simulation that lets you explore other star systems, "enjoy photorealistic representation of our solar system", simulate "the hypnotic and everchanging surface of the stars", and much more. Version 1.5 released in 2016. Adds " touch enabled capabilities and a customizable spaceship mode, allowing the user to flight all around the galaxy with Newtonian physics for the space flight" plus other new features and improvements.
    • MPL3D Solar System offers interactive 3D space simulation - Space-for-All at HobbySpace
  • Space4Case - Mars landscapes & animations by Kees Veenenbos using elevation data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA).
  • StarGen - Solar System Generator - Jim Burrows
    "a program for creating moderately believable planetary systems around stars other than our own."
  • ChView - Jo Grant and Ben Lin
    Java based 3-D Star Maps * Interstellar Navigation * Data on Stars & Extrasolar Planets - "three-dimensional aid to: viewing some of the nearer stars of our galaxy; navigating the distances between them; accessing basic information (and updating what we know); and, hopefully, having some fun."
  • GeoPlayer Mars Demo Download
    • GeoFusion, Inc.
  • SolStation.com - On-line Star Maps
    • Notable Nearby Stars - SolStation
    • Orbit Animations of Planetary and Multiple Star Systems
    • Maps of places mentioned in C.J. Cherryh's fiction
  • Stellar Cartography - Real Star Systems in the "Frontier" (FE2/FFE) Universe - see the entry on the Frontier game series.
  • Extrasolar Visions - An Extrasolar Planets Guide
  • Extrasolar planets - More resources on the planets discovered at nearby stars.
• Textures for planets, moons & asteroids:
  • Mojoworld - Pandromeda -
    This fractal based software allows one to build amazingly detailed and realistic looking 3-D geographic features such as mountains, seas and canyons. Download the free viewer to see the various "worlds" created by people using the program.
    • BiG-i.com Digital Art and Virtual Artist's Community.
    • Solar System on a Floppy - Wired - Nov.7.01
  • Cartography of Non-Spherical Worlds - Phil Stooke
    "shape modelling of small solar system bodies which are ideally suited for use with low resolution images." See also his Small World Atlas 2000.
  • Björn Jónsson: Planetary maps, space renderings and POV-Ray stuff
    • Links - lots of sites for space modelling, textures, 3D graphics, etc.
  • NASA Resources:
    • Blue Marble Next Generation
    • JPL Solar System Simulator
  • Planet Engine
    "3D real-time planet renderer. It allows you to fly over the surface of planets and also to see them from space. You can explore real planets - like Mars and Earth - or use imaginary data."
  • Planetscapes - Solar System Maps and Models
    • Planetary Models
    • Cylindrical Map Index
  • Planetside, the home of Terragen - photo-realistic landscapes
    • Mars renders - Kees Veenenbos
  • JHT's Planetary Pixel Emporium
    • Tutorials
  • MARS RENDERS:: Martian Terrains
  • OpenUniverse.org
  • Space-4-Case
    • Mars renders
  • Space-Graphics.com
  • 3D Millennium - A Gallery of 3D Art & 3D Textures
  • Universe Image Creator. Create your own Universe at Diard Software.
  • Bret Little at Visination.com - Computer Generated 3-D Space and Landscape Artwork
  • Earth 3-D views
    • Photoreal Earth Tutorial at Silicon Magic
    • Virtual Tour Software - 360 Degrees of Freedom
    • Earth Images Collection - Globe Views
• Open Source Collaborative Sims:
  • Space Engine

    is a free space simulation software that lets you explore the universe in three dimensions, starting from planet Earth to the most distant galaxies. Areas of the known universe are represented using actual astronomical data, while regions uncharted by human astronomy are generated procedurally. Millions of galaxies, trillions of stars, countless planets!

    • A video created by the Space Engine
      
      
  • SpaceSimulator.net - Damiano Vitulli site is devoted to space simulation programming. Various other people also have contributed tutorials, software, etc.
    • Tutorials on building 3d engine in C using OpenGL.
    • 3D Engine
    • Space Sim Projects
    • Links
  • Mars Simulation Project - free software Java project to create a simulation of future human settlement of Mars.
  • SourceForge.net: Project Info - Spacecraft Simulation Framework. This open source project seeks to develop "a collection of toolkits & libraries to assist in the modeling, testing & analysis of spacecraft." It was developed out of the master thesis by Andrew Turner, who is a student of Prof. Chris Hall at Virginia Tech.
  • SpaceGear.Org
  • Celestia
    • At Openforge
  • OpenUniverse
  • Mars Simulation Project
    Open source Java project to create a simulation of future human settlement on the planet Mars.
  • Other Space/Astronomy programs at SourceForge.net
• Articles:
  • Alien Animal Planet: Flying whales, walking trees, three-eyed killer birds - NASA and SETI imagine life on other worlds. - Wired - Feb.6.06
  • Cyber Planets: Building Virtual Worlds to Explore Signs of Real Life - Space.com - Dec.10.02

"consultation, design, and fabrication services for exhibits of US manned spacecraft, and similar vehicles. Our specialties include detailed control panel and control mechanism reproductions. We also provide interactive multimedia systems to supplement any exhibit, consult on aerospace subjects, and provide computer aided drafting services." -

• A&M Model Makers
  • Past projects and examples of our scale models, mockups & prototypes
• U.S. Space Enterprises, LLC - Builds space exhibits and simulations for museums, NASA programs, etc.
• Octant Technologies - Spacecraft Flight Control & Simulation - produces professional simulation systems for NASA and commercial spacecraft companies.
• Spaceship Factory - Custom Manufacturing for Interplanetary Living - will build a cool spaceship-like work centers, kiosks, etc.
• Inergi Exhibit Services
  • Space supermodel - Huntsville Times - Oct.7.05
• WonderWorks - replicas for movies, museums, etc.
  • Spacecraft
  • Space Shuttle